The frequency and destruction caused by terrorism have decreased in recent years. The governments across the world are framing policies and initiating counter-terrorism measures. However, there is also a need to ensure that governments do not take steps that unnecessarily encroach the privacy of its citizens. Generalizations that depict entire populations as terrorists need to be avoided, as it also targeted groups that believe in peace. For example, after the attacks of 9/11, even innocent Muslims suffered the humiliation of being referred to as terrorists.
During the September 11 attacks of 2001, 2,977 people died, 19 hijackers committed murder/suicide, and more than 6,000 others were injured.
While responding to terrorist activities is difficult because there is no identifiable leader or only an ill-defined group of individuals with varying connections and commitments undergoing constant change. However, the focus should not be driven away from people who have committed crimes driven by their own ideologies. For example, in Pittsburgh Robert Bowers targeted Jews online and made anti-Semitic comments during the shooting. He also spoke about renewed white identity and goal of killing all the Jews. In a sense, modern white supremacists and Islamist terrorists do not have a lot of difference but are treated differently.
Lone wolf terrorist attacks happen when a person perpetrate acts of terrorism alone. One such example is Anders Breivik who in 2011 massacred 77 people, 69 in Utøya and 8 in Oslo Norway.
People of a country also need to take steps to fight terrorism at a basic level. As most terrorists undergo a process of radicalisation, there is a need for educators and youth to identify this behaviour and report their suspicions to the necessary authorities. In public places, people can keep an eye out for anything suspicious such as an unattended suitcase or someone with a conspicuous level of interest in the security of a building.
