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Trends and Characteristics of Terrorist Attacks Against Nightclub Venues Over 5 Decades

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2024

Grace R. Rahman Open the ORCID record for Grace R. Rahman [Opens in a new window] ,
Stephen Y. Liang Open the ORCID record for Stephen Y. Liang [Opens in a new window] ,
Linlin Tian ,
Steve S. Sin  and
Gregory N. Jasani Open the ORCID record for Gregory N. Jasani [Opens in a new window]
Grace R. Rahman*
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
Stephen Y. Liang
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Linlin Tian
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Steve S. Sin
Affiliation:
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
Gregory N. Jasani
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
*
Corresponding author: Grace R. Rahman; Email: grace.rahman@cardio.chboston.org.
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Abstract

Introduction:

Nightclubs are entertainment and hospitality venues historically vulnerable to terrorist attacks. This study identified and characterized terrorist attacks targeting nightclubs and discotheques documented in the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) over a 50-y period.

Methods:

A search of the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) was conducted from 1970 to 2019. Precoded variables for target type “business” and target subtype “entertainment/cultural/stadium/casino” were used to identify attacks potentially involving nightclubs. Nightclub venues were specifically identified using the search terms “club,” “nightclub,” and “discotheque.” Two authors manually reviewed each entry to confirm the appropriateness for inclusion. Descriptive statistics were performed using R (3.6.1).

Results:

A total of 114 terrorist attacks targeting nightclub venues were identified from January 1, 1970, through December 31, 2019. Seventy-four (64.9%) attacks involved nightclubs, while forty (35.1%) attacks involved discotheques. A bombing or explosion was involved in 84 (73.7%) attacks, followed by armed assault in 14 (12.3%) attacks. The highest number of attacks occurred in Western Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. In total, 284 persons died, and 1175 persons were wounded in attacks against nightclub venues.

Conclusions:

While terrorist attacks against nightclub venues are infrequent, the risk for mass casualties and injuries can be significant, mainly when explosives and armed assaults are used.

Keywords

nightclubdiscothequeterrorismemergency preparednessdisaster medicine
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 18 , 2024 , e12
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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