Social networking conference sheds light on terrorism

Australian terrorists have planned and executed more than 50 attacks over the past decade and research is identifying links between their criminal history and social connections as part of jihadist networks that pose a serious threat to public safety.

A recent Flinders study, presented at the Australian Social Network Analysis Conference (ASNAC) at Flinders University over 27-29 November, analysed the criminal activities of Australian jihadists prior to their engagement in terrorism activities and their social networks, friendships, and all other relationships to identify network structures and gain an insight into the links between criminal activity and terrorism.

Flinders Criminology Associate Professor David Bright and Phillip Screen, both from the Centre for Crime Policy and Research, examined the Australian neo-jihadist network which consisted of seven separate, but interconnected, terrorist cells that operated between 2005 and 2015 and either planned or executed terror attacks.

These cells included some of the most high-profile terrorism cases in Australia’s recent history, including the foiled ANZAC day attack (2015), the foiled bombing of the AFL grand final (2005) and the murder of a police employee at NSW Police Headquarters in Parramatta (2015).

Researchers examined violent crime, property crime, and market crime for actors that went on to become a part of a larger network that planned terrorism attacks. Market crimes are defined as those committed with the aim of deriving profit, such as drug trafficking and gun smuggling.

Analyses showed that 44% of actors in the network (28 people out of 64 in total) had a criminal conviction prior to becoming engaged in terrorist activity.

“Histories of market-based crime were common in the network – 23.5% of the network had previous involvement in market-based crime. This included the possession and trafficking of illicit drugs and firearms,” says Associate Professor David Bright.

“12.5% percent of individuals in the overall network engaged in market-based crime in support of terrorist planning and activities. For example, the sourcing of ammunition, guns, and bomb making materials. Drug trafficking used to fund terror=related activities, part of which was contributed in financial donations to international terrorist organisations such as Al-Shabbab.”

Interestingly, histories of violent crime were not common – with just 11% of terrorists having any association. This is in contrast with recent European studies that found violent criminal histories among terrorists at between 30 to 50%.

ASNAC brought together academics, students, and industry partners from Australia and beyond. Presentations and posters covered the breadth of theory, method, and application of social network analysis in contexts ranging from health and the environment to innovation and social media.

Posted in
Uncategorised