Democratization of Terrorism: An Analysis of Vehicle-based Terrorist Events

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic inspired social changes that promote outdoor activities including eating at restaurants, which may linger in a world hyperfocused on disease transmission prevention, increasing the vulnerabilities to vehicle-based terrorism. Vehicle ramming attacks started transition from relatively rare method of attack one most lethal forms terrorism prior emergence COVID-19. Method: This study aims provide historical analysis terrorism-based using vehicles between 1970 and 2019 by retrospectively searching Global Terrorism Database for terror events used vehicle as means attack–a methodology suggested Tin et al. Results: 257 recorded involved some type 2019. resulted 808 fatalities 1715 injuries when excluding September 11 attacks. 76 occurred West Bank Gaza Strip, 25 USA, 16 Israel, 14 UK. Of incidents, 71% (183) within last 6-year span inquiry. Conclusion: By 2016, were form comprising just over half all terrorism-related deaths year. Large gatherings such festivals, sporting events, now seating leave number people highly vulnerable depending established countermeasures. increased prevalence post-COVID-19 will further expose large numbers potential scale casualties can overwhelm traditional resources strain abilities healthcare sector. Counterterrorism disaster medicine specialists are crucial players educating first responders emergency providers, allowing them adequately prepare an evolving threat devastated