Understanding the Logic - An Analysis of Jihadist Targeting and Tactics in Western Countries from 2000 to mid-2012

This article presents an overview of the evolution of the Jihadist threat to the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia between 2000 and mid-2012. It also conducts a detailed analysis of the targeting and tactical preferences of Jihadists operating in these countries, revealing clear correlations between the origin of the threat and the target and attack methodology chosen. Overall, it was found that while the origin of the threat has evolved throughout the period studied, the targets chosen and tactics employed have remained relatively consistent over time.