Title: A user-layered approach for modelling and simulating terrorist attacks

Authors: Tanya Le Sage; Hervé Borrion; Sonia Toubaline

Addresses: Department of Security and Crime Science, University College London, 35 Tavistock Square, WC1H 9EZ, London, UK ' Department of Security and Crime Science, University College London, 35 Tavistock Square, WC1H 9EZ, London, UK ' Department of Security and Crime Science, University College London, 35 Tavistock Square, WC1H 9EZ, London, UK

Abstract: Modelling and simulation techniques offer a comprehensive method for assessing the impact of a terrorist attack, allowing multiple scenarios to be simulated with ease without imposing extensive time or cost constraints. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive model for the different categories of users who are likely to be involved in the modelling and simulation of a terrorist attack. The model focuses on assessing protection measures for implementation within a single building. It takes into account the different types of threat (biological, chemical and explosive) that may occur within or around such a target infrastructure. Finally it considers that a specific company may be required to invest in one or more protection technologies to reduce the risk of an attack occurring, be it a single threat or a combination of threats.

Keywords: client-servers; critical infrastructures; modelling; scenario analysis; security systems; terrorist attacks; terrorism; simulation; user categories; protection technologies; biological threat; chemical threat; explosive threat.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCIS.2014.066342

International Journal of Critical Infrastructures, 2014 Vol.10 No.3/4, pp.398 - 412

Received: 29 Apr 2013
Accepted: 26 Jul 2013
Published online: 14 Jan 2015 *

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