Foreshadowing Terror: Exploring the Time of Online Manifestos Prior to Lone Wolf Attacks

Thomas Williams; Calli Tzani; Maria Ioannou

doi:10.1080/1057610X.2023.2205973

Foreshadowing Terror: Exploring the Time of Online Manifestos Prior to Lone Wolf Attacks

Thomas Williams, Calli Tzani, Maria Ioannou

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Previous research has highlighted the prominent behavior of lone wolf terrorists to produce and share a manifesto publicly, outlining their frustrations and motivations for their eventual terrorist attack. This article aims to explore this phenomenon, focusing on the timelapse between when a terrorist manifesto is posted online and when the eventual attack occurs, discussing the time difference between the two events for 12 cases of lone wolf terrorism. The results revealed that the average time lapse between when a manifesto was posted online and when the terrorist attack occurs is one hour, 43 min. Limitations and implications are discussed in detail.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1436-1447
Number of pages	12
Journal	Studies in Conflict and Terrorism
Volume	48
Issue number	12
Early online date	30 May 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2023.2205973
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2025

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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10.1080/1057610X.2023.2205973Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Foreshadowing Terror: Exploring the Time of Online Manifestos Prior to Lone Wolf Attacks",

abstract = "Previous research has highlighted the prominent behavior of lone wolf terrorists to produce and share a manifesto publicly, outlining their frustrations and motivations for their eventual terrorist attack. This article aims to explore this phenomenon, focusing on the timelapse between when a terrorist manifesto is posted online and when the eventual attack occurs, discussing the time difference between the two events for 12 cases of lone wolf terrorism. The results revealed that the average time lapse between when a manifesto was posted online and when the terrorist attack occurs is one hour, 43 min. Limitations and implications are discussed in detail.",

keywords = "Lone Wolf, Manifesto, Terrorism, Extremism, Terrorist Attack",

author = "Thomas Williams and Calli Tzani and Maria Ioannou",

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AU - Ioannou, Maria

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N2 - Previous research has highlighted the prominent behavior of lone wolf terrorists to produce and share a manifesto publicly, outlining their frustrations and motivations for their eventual terrorist attack. This article aims to explore this phenomenon, focusing on the timelapse between when a terrorist manifesto is posted online and when the eventual attack occurs, discussing the time difference between the two events for 12 cases of lone wolf terrorism. The results revealed that the average time lapse between when a manifesto was posted online and when the terrorist attack occurs is one hour, 43 min. Limitations and implications are discussed in detail.

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Foreshadowing Terror: Exploring the Time of Online Manifestos Prior to Lone Wolf Attacks

Abstract

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Social Media Mis-/Disinformation and the Risk of Atrocities in the United States

Cite this

Foreshadowing Terror: Exploring the Time of Online Manifestos Prior to Lone Wolf Attacks

Abstract

UN SDGs

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Other files and links

Fingerprint

Press/Media

Social Media Mis-/Disinformation and the Risk of Atrocities in the United States

Cite this