Understand The Violent History Of Domestic Terrorism In The United States

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TEXT: What is domestic terrorism?

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VISUAL: A large explosion occurs as runners reach the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

TEXT: “A terrorist uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in pursuit of their political aims.”

U.S. History is Littered with incidents of domestic terrorists striking out to make their political aims known. 

In 1920, anarchists killed 30 people on Wall Street to protest capitalism. It was the largest single incident of American terrorism until 1995. 

Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, is just one in a long line of American domestic terrorists.

Reporter: The US government believes there's no other suspect in an 18-year reign of terror, only this man, Theodore Kaczynski. Federal investigators say he's the one who killed three people and maimed 23 others. 

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TEXT: Organized domestic terror in the U.S. found its first full expression in the 1860’s in the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. They were known for their violent attacks on African-Americans. They remain active today. 

In the late 20th and early 21st century, incidents of domestic terrorism have become more commonplace. 1995 saw the deadliest single domestic terrorist attack in U.S. history, carried out by Timothy Mcveigh and Terry Nichols who were targeting the U.S. government. They were motivated by what they saw as an overly aggressive conduct by federal agencies. They attacked a federal building using a truck filled with explosives killing 168 people. It remains the deadliest single domestic terrorist attack in U.S. history. 

As organized protest. Animal rights extremists have committed attacks resulting in millions of dollars in damage. 

Protesters: “Stop [inaudible] right now. Stop [inaudible] right now.”

TEXT: Radical conservative religious groups have attacked medical facilities and doctors. They are responsible for over 100 acts of vandalism, 41 bombings, 173 arson attacks, and 11 deaths. Radical Islamist groups have incited religiously motivated terrorism in our nation. 

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TEXT: The forms of domestic terrorism continue to evolve. But through advances in counterterrorism techniques, experts also continue to refine their methods and strategies for preventing attacks. 

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