Suicide ^homicide Inthe Nameof God: Is History Repeating Itself?

Both assert power over death (Dein & Littlewood, 2000). Individual murderers may seek the death penalty for themselves by committing suicide or attempting fatal self-harm; one in three murders is followed by suicide, and the majority of suicides of murderers occur within hours of the act of killing (West, 1965). Some murderers may also die in acts of simultaneous murder and suicide. Historically, this is hardly a new phenomenon. Simultaneous suicide and homicide has been employed as an act of warfare since ancient times. In the Middle Ages the Jewish Sicairis and Islamic Hashishiyun sects were infamous for such attacks (Schweitzer, 2000). In the 18th century suicide–homicide tactics were used in India, Sumatra and the Philippines, and in the 20th century the Japanese launched kamikaze attacks during the Second World War.