List of terrorist groups Details, Meaning List of terrorist groups Article and Explanation Guide

List of terrorist groups Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

Groups considered by some countries to be terrorist. Not everyone agrees with characterizing some of these groups as terrorist. This does not include governments, see state terrorism for states alleged to engage in terrorism.

Religious Terrorists

Christian

Nagaland Rebels (1948-present) Active in predominately Christian state in Hindu India. Involved in several bombings in 2004. Goal: Independence from Hindu India after annexing parts of neighboring Indian states and Burma if it has Christian majority.
Ku Klux Klan A racist Protestant Christian organization with a history of violence against blacks, Jews, and Catholics.
Anti-Abortion Terrorism Activities include bombing abortion clinics, killing doctors and nurses. A member Eric Robert Rudolph was charged with Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the Olympics and a health clinic in Birmingham, Alabama.
Irish Republican Army (IRA) (1916-present) **
Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (1969-present)
- Splinter group of the 'Official' IRA.
- Supporters of the PIRA split from 'Official' Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Workers' Party).
- Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1997
- Splinter groups:
  - Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
    - Also known as the "Continuity Army Council" and "Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for 'Volunteers of Ireland')
  - Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (1997-present) *
    - Also known as the True IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for Volunteers of Ireland).
    - Does not recognize Belfast Agreement.
Irish National Liberation Army
Ulster Defence Association (UDA) (1971-present) **
- Also called the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF.
- On February 22, 2003, announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months.
- Splinter group:
  - Red Hand Defenders (1998-present) **
    - UDA splinter group. Opposes ceasefire.
Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) (May 1966-present)
- Very closely linked with the Red Hand Commandos (1972-present).
Ulster Defense Force (UVP) **
Loyalist Volunteer Force (disbanded)
Orange Volunteers

Hindu

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - Sri Lanka. One of the largest terrorist group with 10,000 members. The group has carried out 240+ suicide bombings since early 80s. Tamils are Hindu, unlike the rest of Sri Lankans who are Buddhists.
Shiv Sina Extremist Hindu political party in India designated by Pakistan as a terrorist group. The group has been involved in several religious riots that lead to the death of several thousands.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad -- Hindu nationalist organization in India. It is agitating for the construction of a temple to Ram at Ram Janmabhoomi, the site of the destroyed Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.

Jewish

(Some of these Jewish terrorist groups believe that God gave Jews the land of Israel and so they advocate ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Israel, West Bank and Gaza).

Jewish Defense League - United States
Kach and Kahane Chai - Israel and United States. The Hatikva Center is a Kahane Chai front organization.
Irgun - British mandate of Palestine (founded 1931, disbanded 1948)
Lehi (popularly known as the Stern Gang) - British mandate of Palestine (founded 1940, disbanded 1948)

Islamic

Abu Sayyaf (1991-present; Islamist separatists; the Philippines)
- Based in the southern islands of Jolo, Basilan, and Mindanao.
- Branched off of the Moro National Liberation Front.
- Is partnered with Jemaah Islamiyah and Al-Qaeda.
Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Late 1970s-present; Islamists; Egypt)
- Seeks to establish Islamist rule in Egypt. Usually targets secular establishments, government buildings, police, the military, Coptic Christians, tourists, Jews, and “morally offensive” buildings.
Armed Islamic Group (1992-present; Islamists; Algeria)
- Seeks to establish Islamist rule in Algeria. Began operations in 1992 after the Algerian government ignored election results that gave victory to Islamist political parties.
- In recent years has lost influence as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat gained power.
Ansar al-Islam (December 2001-present; Islamists; Iraq)
- In Arabic, "Supporters of Islam."
- Also known as "Partisans of Islam or Helpers of Islam."
Al-Qaeda (1988-present; Islamists; Afganistan, Pakistan, and worldwide)
- In Arabic, "the foundation" or "the base."
- Also known as Qa‘idat al-Jihad, Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Places, World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders, Islamic Salvation Foundation, and the Usama bin Laden Network.
Asbat al-Ansar (early 1990s-present; Lebanese Sunni Islamists; southern Lebanon)
- In Arabic, "the League of the Followers."
Hamas (1987-present; Islamists and Palestinian nationalists; Israel and the Palestinian territories) *
- In Arabic, "zeal" or "courage."
- Acronym for "Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya," or Islamic Resistance Movement.
Hizbollah (Lebanese) (1982-present; Lebanese Shiite Islamists; Lebanon and worldwide)
Jama'at al-Tawhid wa'al-Jihad - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's network, operating in Iraq
- on U.S. State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations
Egyptian Islamic Jihad - Egypt (active since the late 1970s)
Harakut ul-Ansar (HUA) - Pakistan and Kashmir
Islamic Movement of Central Asia - Central Asia
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan - Uzbekistan
Jaish-e-Mohammad - Pakistan
Jemaah Islamiyah - Southeast Asia
Lashkar-e-Toiba - Pakistan
Maktab al-Khadamat - Afghanistan
Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group - Morocco and Spain
Muslim Brotherhood - international
Palestinian Islamic Jihad - Gaza Strip/West Bank/Israel
People Against Gangsterism and Drugs - South Africa
Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat - Algeria

Islamist Fronts

Al-Barakaat (Al-Qaida front)

Al-Wafa Humanitarian Organization (Al-Qaida front)

Benevolence International Foundation (Al-Qaida front)
Global Relief Foundation (Al-Qaida front)
Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (Hamas)
Konsojaya Trading Company (Jemaah Islamiyah front)

Other religious terrorists

Aum Supreme Truth (Aum Shinrikyo) - Japan (homicidal religious cult)
Militant pro-life extremists - United States

Nationalistic Terrorist Organizations

Lebanese

Lebanese Hizbollah (1982-present; Shiite Lebanese Islamists and Palestinian nationalists; Lebanon)
- In Arabic, "Party of God." Hezbollah claims that it has never committed any acts of terror, and normally restricts its operations to Israeli military targets in Lebanon and the Shebaa Farms. However, it is alleged to have been involved in the bombing of Jewish civilian targets in Argentina in 1992 - the Israeli embassy, killing 29 - and in 1994 - a Jewish community centre, killing 95. [12]
- Also known as Hezbollah, Hizbullah, Huzbollah, Hizbalah, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, and the Revolutionary Justice Organization.

Palestinian

Palestinian Liberation Organization (June 1964-Present)
- Formed as an umbrella group of eight Palestinian nationalist organizations devoted to terrorism, headquartered in Damascus, Syria and Beirut, Lebanon.
- Used the name Black September during the 1972 Munich Olympic Massacre)
- Groups within the PLO
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) (1967-present)
  - Left-wing Palestinian separatists
  - Joined the PLO in 1968 and became the second-largest PLO faction, after Arafat's al-Fatah, but withdrew in 1974, accusing the group of moving away from the goal of destroying Israel outright.
    - PFLP's splinter groups:
      - Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) (1968-present) *
        Splinter group from the PFLP, founded by Ahmed Jibril. Declared its focus would be military, not political. Was a member of the PLO, but left in 1974 for the same reasons as PFLP.
      - Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) (1969-present)
        Marxist-Leninist group that believes Palestinian national goals can be achieved only through revolution of the masses. Split into two factions in 1991; Nayif Hawatmah leads the majority and more hard-line faction, which continue to dominate the group. Joined with other rejectionist groups to form the Alliance of Palestinian Forces (APF) to oppose the Declaration of Principals signed in 1993. Broke from the APF - along with the PFLP - over ideological differences. Has made limited moves toward merging with the PFLP since the mid-1990s.
- Abu Nidal organization (ANO) (1974-2002?; Anti-PLO extremists) *
  - Split from PLO but is not considered primarily a Palestinian nationalist organization. See ANO entry above.
- Fatah (early 1960s-present; Palestinian nationalist political party; sponsors terrorism)
  - In Arabic, "conquest by means of jihad."
  - Reverse acronym for "Harekat at-Tahrir al-Wataniyyeh al-Falastiniyyeh."
  - Also known as the movement for the National Liberation of Palestine.
  - Founded by Yasser Arafat in the early 1960s. Took control of the PLO in 1960, with Arafat as chairman, forming the Palestinian Authority.
    - Groups associated with Fatah:
      - Al Aqsa Marytrs Brigade *
        Responsible of many suicide bombings and shooting attacks against Israeli civilian.
        Responsible of executing suspected collaberators and opposition leaders to Arafat.
        Funded by Fatah and the Palestinian Authority.
      - Tanzim (1995-present)
        In Arabic, "organization."
        Loosely organized Fatah militia.
      - Force 17 (early 1970s-present)
        Elite unit of the PLO under Yasser Arafat's direct guidance.
        Acts as a versatile unit for terrorism, combat, and intelligence-gathering.
      - Hawari (1980s-1991)
        Also known as the Fatah Special Operations Group, Martyrs of Tal Al Za'atar, and Amn Araissi.
        Has not carried out terrrorist attacks recently.
      - Ahmed Abu Reish Brigade
        Extreme off-shoot of Fatah.
        Was involved in July 17, 2004 kidnappings in the Gaza Strip.
        Possible link to the Popular Resistance Committees.
- The Popular Resistance Committees - Gaza Strip

Pre-State of Israel Zionist terrorists

Irgun - British mandate of Palestine (founded 1931, disbanded 1948)
Lehi (popularly known as the Stern Gang) - British mandate of Palestine (founded 1940, disbanded 1948)

Pre-Independence Irish Nationalists

Fenian Brotherhood (19th century, disbanded)

Irish Nationalists (Ulster)

Irish Republican Army (IRA) (1916-present) **
Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (1969-present)
- Splinter group of the 'Official' IRA.
- Supporters of the PIRA split from 'Official' Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Workers' Party).
- Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1997
- Splinter groups:
  - Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
    - Also known as the "Continuity Army Council" and "Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for 'Volunteers of Ireland')
  - Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (1997-present) *
    - Also known as the True IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for Volunteers of Ireland).
    - Does not recognize Belfast Agreement.
Irish National Liberation Army

Protestant Supremacists (Ulster)

Ulster Defence Association (UDA) (1971-present) **

Also called the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF.
On February 22, 2003, announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months.
Splinter group:
- Red Hand Defenders (1998-present) **
  - UDA splinter group. Opposes ceasefire.

Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) (May 1966-present)