Preparing and responding to mass-casualty terrorist attacks: a comparative analysis of four terrorist attacks targeting rail bound traffic Online publication date: Tue, 15-Sep-2015
by Veronica Strandh
International Journal of Emergency Management (IJEM), Vol. 11, No. 3, 2015
Abstract: This paper addresses the challenging task of responding to terrorist attacks targeting rail bound traffic and provides a multi-level framework for analysis of such complex attacks. Major mass-casualty attacks are particularly challenging to emergency management and there is a knowledge gap concerning how to prepare for and respond to such extraordinary events. This paper categorises a rich empirical material from four major attacks on rail bound traffic and concludes that decisive components of the emergency management response in the four cases are related to agent-generated demands. Additional complicating factors emerge since each response is carried out in a specific terrorism context. Examples include sense-making difficulties, scene safety and terrorism-specific injuries. Another conclusion is that the development of knowledge and awareness about such challenges and the incorporation of such knowledge in training and response plans are pivotal to future emergency management.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Emergency Management (IJEM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook