Rare instances of individuals with autism supporting or engaging in terrorism
| Published date | 12 June 2017 |
| Pages | 70-82 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-11-2016-0022 |
| Date | 12 June 2017 |
| Author | Lino Faccini,Clare S. Allely |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Deviant behaviour,Education,Special education/gifted education,Emotional/behavioural disorders |
Rare instances of individuals with autism
supporting or engaging in terrorism
Lino Faccini and Clare S. Allely
Abstract
Purpose –The prevalence of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) being associated with
terroristic threats, lone wolf terrorism or affiliating with terroristic groups is rare. This paper aims to discuss
this issue.
Design/methodology/approach –However, several cases are presented, where individuals with autism
are involved in making a naïve, empty terroristic threat or uttering serious serial terroristic threats. Other cases
are also presented of individuals being at risk for an abduction or being used by a terrorist group, and finally
committing an act of domestic lone wolf terrorism.
Findings –Essential to the analysis was establishing a functional connection between autism-based deficits
and the terroristic threats, terrorism, and when to not criminalize naïve, empty terroristic threats or acts.
Originality/value –Currently,tools availableto law enforcement andprosecutors exploit thevulnerabilities and
liabilitieswhich arise as a result ofgroup interactions, a “preventive”approach to terrorismthat is not applicable
to the solitary, “lone wolf”terrorist. There has beenrelatively little research (including casestudies) examining
individuals withASD who engage in terrorism. For instance, when dealing withan individual with ASD who is
chargedwith terrorism, it is crucial toconsider how the diagnosis of autismmay have presented as a contextual
vulnerability,and to make surethat justice, rehabilitationand management, areinformed by an understandingof
the person’s diagnosis of ASD.
Keywords Asperger’s syndrome, Autism spectrum disorder, Terrorism, Domestic lone wolf terrorism,
Lone wolf terrorism, Path to intended and terroristic violence
Paper type Case study
Terrorism involves committing violent acts for political, religious or ideological reasons. Although
there are different models to account for the forces and progression toward becoming actively a
terrorist for neuro-typical individuals, someone with autism being involved in terrorism is rare and
not well understood. As a result, the prevalence of individuals with autism being attracted or
recruited by terror organizations is unknown. As a result, the examination of any connection
between terrorism and individuals with autism is in its infancy. A likely starting point may involve
examining different levels of commitment to a terrorist cause, and investigate whether a similar
means of understanding the level of involvement also exists for individuals with autism.
In addition, it would also be important to ascertain if similar psychological and social dynamics
are involved in moving one toward becoming more active and fighting for a terrorist organization.
Essentially,terrorism can be committedas part of an organized group oralone. Typically, terrorism
is characterizedand understood as a group phenomenon(Nesser, 2012). Relativelyrecently, there
has been the emergenceof a new type of terrorist threat –the “lone wolf”terrorist (Barnes,2012).
In the peer-reviewed literature, terrorist attacks by single actors are typicallyrepresented as “lone
wolf terrorism”(Spaaij, 2012), “leaderless resistance”(Kaplan, 1997), “soloterrorism”(CTA, 2011),
“individual terrorism”(Iviansky, 1977) and “freelance terrorism”(Kushner, 2003).
In regard to acts committed by individuals with autism, there have been rare reports of individuals
with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) associating with terrorist activities or causes.
Dr Zainab Al-Attar (2016a, b) has reported that there is no substantial link between ASD and
terrorism. However, when someone with an ASD does associate with extremists or terrorists,
she highlighted that circumscribed interests, deficits in central coherence and myopia, and even
Received 15 November 2016
Revised 10 March 2017
Accepted 12 March 2017
This manuscript was conducted
without any funding. All authors
declare that they have no conflict
of interest.
Lino Faccini is a Licensed
Psychologist based in
Hauppauge,
New York, USA.
Clare S. Allely is a Lecturer in
Psychology at the School of
Health Sciences, University of
Salford, Manchester, UK and
an Affiliate Member of the
Gillberg Neuropsychiatry
Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy,
University of Gothenburg,
Gothenburg, Sweden.
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VOL. 8 NO.2 2017, pp.70-82, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824 DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-11-2016-0022
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