Terrorism is a unique form of crime, If often encompasses elements of politics, warfare and propaganda. In recent years, some analysts have perceived a dangerous trend towards inflicting high casualties in terrorist actions. So far the use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists has largely been confined to science fiction literature, but today's fiction can become tomorrow's fact if no preventive measures are taken in time. The United Nations recognized this emerging threat and established the Terrorism Prevention Branch in 1999.

Terrorists are most frequently to be found on the level of "Violent Political Conflicts". As armed conflicts escalate into guerilla warfare or civil war, terrorist crimes tend to assume the form of war crimes. High intensity conflicts and Violent Political Conflicts have increased 62 and 56 per cent, respectively, since mid 1998.

Source: PIOOM Leiden University, 2000.