Terrorist attacks in Iran: A counter-terrorism medicine analysis

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• National Security

Background:

• Terrorist attacks disrupt healthcare services and burden emergency responders and health systems.
• Understanding the epidemiology of terrorism is crucial for public health preparedness.
• This study examines terrorist incidents in Iran from 1979 to 2020.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an epidemiological description of terrorist attacks in Iran.
• To analyze trends in attack types, weapons used, and casualties.
• To inform national security and public health strategies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective data collection from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD).
• Analysis of incidents in Iran between January 1, 1979, and December 31, 2020.
• Inclusion of target type, attack type, weapon, perpetrator, location, fatalities, and injuries.

Main Results:

• 543 terrorist attacks identified, causing 1,150 fatalities and 3,792 injuries.
• Average of 2.12 fatalities and 7.09 injuries per incident.
• Explosives (55.63%) and bombings (52.3%) were the most common methods.

Conclusions:

• A decreasing trend in terrorist incidents suggests improved national security and stability in Iran.
• Continued development of security policies and passive defense is recommended.
• Proactive measures are essential to prevent future terrorist events.