A presentation given at the University of Buckingham on the 5th of February 2020. Concerns a ten year study into the men responsible for terrorist attacks across Europe.

1. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Understanding
Martyrdom Terrorism
in Europe

2. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Dr Lewis Herrington
• MEng in Computer Science
• MA in Politics and IR Theory
• PhD in Counter Terrorism
• Government Advisor (UK/Israel)
• Book: Understanding Martyrdom
• Twitter.com/herringtonlewis

3. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
What is
martyrdom
terrorism?

4. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Martyrdom-Terrorism:
Conspiracy to murder, accompanied by self-
inflicted death or long-term suffering designed to
satisfy a power greater than myself

5. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
What is the nature of
martyrdom terrorism in
Europe?
Who is responsible for
this recent
phenomenon?
How does a person
become a martyr
terrorist?
Why do men pursue
martyrdom?
What, Who, How and Why

6. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
A few words on methodology
• No absolute truth in social science – Why do you smoke?
• Very few empirical studies in terrorism
• Fewer in respect of martyrdom terrorism
• Mostly qualitative, anecdotal and small n
• Conflation of jihad (insurgency), terrorism and martyrdom
• Correlation is not causation
• Problem of specificity

7. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
The first individual level dataset…
• I adopted a mixed methods approach
• Forty-Eight Successful attacks in Europe 2001 to 2018
• Eighty Martyr Terrorists
• Seventy independent binary variables
• Pre-Radicalisation, Radicalisation, Martyrdom
• Check against detailed life stories
• Grounded Theory – Constantly reworking dataset

8. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
What is the nature of martyrdom terrorism in Europe?
• Martyrdom Terrorism is Spiritual not Religious
• Emerged from Islamist fellowships across Europe
• Driven by love for God, not Religion or Politics
• Relies on a socially constructed solution to Sin
• Sin = Disconnected from God
• Mostly self-starters with no connection to Al-Qaeda

9. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
What is the
Nature of
Martyrdom
Terrorism?
Two Peaks
2005 & 2017
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2001 - 2003 2004 - 2006 2007 - 2009 2010 - 2012 2013 - 2015 2016 - 2018 2019 - 2020
What is the Nature of Martyrdom Terrorism in Europe?

10. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Role of
Proscribed
Terrorist
Groups
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2001 - 2003 2004 - 2006 2007 - 2009 2010 - 2012 2013 - 2015 2016 - 2018
Connected Inspired Unconnected
What is the Nature of Martyrdom Terrorism in Europe?

11. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Modus
Operandi
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
2001 - 2003 2004 - 2006 2007 - 2009 2010 - 2012 2013 - 2015 2016 - 2018
Explosives Shooting Vehicle Stabbing
What is the Nature of Martyrdom Terrorism in Europe?

12. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Who becomes a martyr terrorist in Europe?
• On average, martyr terrorists become increasingly religious in their early 20’s,
become active extremists by 25 and carry out an attack by 27.
• About (24%) attend university - same as national average.
• The vast majority (75%) are raised in working-class or privileged homes by two
stable parents.
• Well over half (65%) were not married and (76%) had no children.
• Significantly, at least (73%) were regular drug users before turning to religion.
Cannabis was the drug of choice but there have also been cocaine and heroin
addicts.
• Evidence of psychopathology in around 30% of cases.

13. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Key Ages in
the Process of
Radicalisation
0
5
10
15
20
25
<18 18-20 21-23 24-26 27-29 30-32 33-35 >35
Increase Religiosity Extremist Attacked
Who becomes a Martyrdom Terrorist in Europe?
Only 5% of martyrs were over 30 when they first turned to religion

14. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Who
becomes a
Martyr
terrorist?
Heritage
40%
14%
10%
4%
32%
Morrocan
Algerian
Tunisian
Pakistani
Other
Who becomes a Martyrdom Terrorist in Europe?

15. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Who
becomes a
Martyrdom
Terrorist in
Europe?
Who
becomes a
Martyr
terrorist?
Childhood
7%
56%
16%
21%
Poverty
Working Class
Priviledge
Dysfunctional
Who becomes a Martyrdom Terrorist in Europe?

16. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Who becomes a martyr terrorist in Europe?
Type Description Label Count
1
Mostly unmarried, turned to religion in
late teens
Healthy 15
2 Drug users, mostly with a criminal record Dysfunctional 28
3
Non-violent drug users with a history of
psychopathology
Psychotic 10
4
Mostly drug addicted violent career
criminals but with no history of
psychopathology
Violent 11
5
Violent drug addicted career criminals
with a history of psychopathology
Violent Psychotic 11

17. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
%
Turned to
Religion
Observed
Extremist
Attacked
Lone
Actors
Partnerships
Cell
Leaders
Cell
Followers
Healthy (19) 18.3 21.13 22.73 2 3 0 10
Dysfunctional (35) 20.78 24.29 26.48 10 2 2 14
Psychotic (12) 22 25.69 29 8 1 1 0
Violent (14) 25 26.45 29.63 3 3 4 1
Violent
Psychotic
(12) 26.13 31.3 32.6 8 2 0 1
Who becomes a martyr terrorist in Europe?
* Healthy young men are most likely to be drawn into a terrorist cell as followers on the periphery
**Drug use is progressive. As users get older, tolerance increases concomitant with dysfunctional

18. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
How does someone become a martyr terrorist?
Step 1 –
Admitted we
had a
problem
Step 2 –
Failed with
mainstream
solutions
Step 3 –
Identification
with
likeminded
individuals
Step 4 –
Acceptance
of the
Fellowship &
Programme
Step 5 –
Spiritual
Growth
Revolving Door

19. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
What is the Fellowship of Likeminded Individuals?
International (ISIS)
Regional (Sharia4UK)
Local (Small Group)
Private (Alone/Pairs)
Wide
Narrow

20. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
What is the Programme?
Prayer Preaching Sponsoring Socialising Studying

21. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Why do men in Europe
pursue martyrdom?
• All humans worship a higher power – Self, Drugs,
Money, Ideology, Group (Religion/Cult/Fellowship)
• Spiritual experience: Positive change of higher power
• Spiritual awakening: Higher power becomes God
• All human decision making is motivated by love,
resentment, fear or amends towards higher power
• Following a period of spiritual growth (average 2-5
years) -> Decision to pursue martyrdom
• Two unique types of martyr terrorist

22. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Two Types of Martyr Terrorist in Europe
Type A: Euphoric Type B: Melancholy
Spiritual Awakening Spiritual Experiences
Higher Power = God
Higher Power = Self or
Fellowship
Motivation:
Love & Amends
Motivation:
Fear & Resentment
Estimate: (57%) Estimate: (43%)
Mohammed Khan (7/7) Anis Amri (Berlin Market)

23. Understanding Martyrdom Terrorism
Thank you for listening
Any Questions?