Interesting

The Global Terrorism Database (GTD) is an open-source database including information on terrorist events around the world from 1970 through 2008 (with additional annual updates planned for the future). Unlike many other event databases, the GTD includes systematic data on domestic as well as transnational and international terrorist incidents that have occurred during this time period and now includes more than 87,000 cases. For each GTD incident, information is available on the date and location of the incident, the weapons used and nature of the target, the number of casualties, and--when identifiable--the group or individual responsible.

The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) makes the GTD available via this online interface in an effort to increase understanding of terrorist violence so that it can be more readily studied and defeated.

Characteristics of the GTD

Contains information on over 87,000 terrorist attacks

Currently the most comprehensive unclassified data base on terrorist events in the world

Includes information on more than 38,000 bombings, 13,000 assassinations, and 4,000 kidnappings since 1970

Includes information on at least 45 variables for each case, with more recent incidents including information on more than 120 variables

Supervised by an advisory panel of 12 terrorism research experts

Over 3,500,000 news articles and 25,000 news sources were reviewed to collect incident data from 1998 to 2008 alone

Government representatives and interested researchers may request versions of the data directly through the GTD Contact Form: http://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/contact/