Countering Terrorist Acts Against Christian Places of Worship

Christian places of worship have been recurring targets for violent non-state actors since at least the late 1990s. To reach a realistic understanding of this threat this Research Note has scrutinized a sample of 26 attacks, looking at nine parameters. Important lessons can be drawn from incidents by looking at mortality rates, weapons used, perpetrator motivations, preventative and reactive measures taken—including spontaneous defensive actions taken by victims or bystanders. The objective of this Research Note is to identify specific security challenges Christian communities face. Suggestions are made on how to enhance existing security arrangements and how to arrive at a more effective security regime.