A New Era of Mass Vehicle Attacks: The Rise of Vehicle Terrorism
Since the 2016 Nice, France attack, where a man drove a truck into a crowd of Bastille Day celebrants, killing 86 people, vehicle attacks have become increasingly common around the world. These attacks have resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries, often with devastating consequences.
In the United States, the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency has deemed vehicle attacks a significant threat and has provided a “Vehicle Incident Prevention and Mitigation Security Guide” to mitigate the risk of such attacks.
Recent high-profile incidents include a Christmas market attack in Magdeburg, Germany, where a 50-year-old man charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder drove a car into crowds, killing five people and injuring scores.
In Zhuhai, China, a 62-year-old driver rammed his car into a crowd at a sports center, killing 35 people and severely injuring 43. The driver, who had been upset about his divorce settlement, had been captured and was hospitalized with self-inflicted wounds.
Other notable incidents include a Christmas parade attack in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where a driver killed six people and injured dozens, and a terrorist attack in London, Ontario, where a 22-year-old man drove his pick-up truck into a Muslim family, killing four people.
In the United States, there have been several high-profile vehicle attacks, including a 2017 attack in Manhattan, where a truck was driven onto a bike path, killing eight people, and a 2022 attack in New Orleans, where a pickup truck crashed into a crowd of New Year’s Day celebrants, killing 10 people.
These attacks are often perpetrated by individuals with radical ideologies, who seek to cause harm and fear through the use of vehicles. As the world grapples with the threat of vehicle terrorism, it is essential to work together to prevent and mitigate the impact of these attacks.
