Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

Terrorist attacks in Türkiye: An analysis of counter-terrorism medicine

Year 2024, Volume: 29 Issue: 2, 127 - 138, 29.05.2024
https://doi.org/10.21673/anadoluklin.1469126

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this research was to perform a counter-terrorism medicine analysis of terrorist attacks in Türkiye.

Methods: This study is a retrospective cross-sectional research. The study population consisted of terrorist incidents that occurred in Türkiye, as provided by the START Global Terrorism Database for the period from 1970 to 2020. Various characteristics of terror attacks in Türkiye were analyzed and presented in tabular form.

Results: Over the past 51 years, there have been a total of 4,485 terrorist incidents, with 91.2% reaching their intended targets as orchestrated by terrorist organizations in Türkiye. Of these incidents, 2,767 had detrimental economic impacts. Additionally, 17,570 individuals experienced adverse medical effects. Among the 81 provinces in Turkey, Istanbul witnessed the highest number of terrorist incidents and suffered the most significant medical consequences.

Conclusion: Türkiye has been significantly impacted by terrorist incidents over the past fifty years especially within the last decade, particularly in metropolitan provinces like Istanbul. These events have negatively affected both the health and economic well-being of many individuals. In response, while the country has implemented various security measures and preparedness strategies to mitigate such incidents, there is also a critical need to improve the readiness of healthcare services to effectively handle the potential consequences of terrorist attacks. This includes advancing anti-terror medicine and tactical medicine capabilities, as well as strengthening mass casualty management systems. Such improvements will ensure a more effective and coordinated response to large-scale emergencies, ultimately saving lives and reducing the long-term impacts on society.

Ethical Statement

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The study's database was downloaded from the Global Terrorism Database, available free and open access by START. Therefore, the authors have no information funding that could reveal our identities or affiliations.

Supporting Institution

Bulunmamaktadır

References

  • Hata R, Hart A, Hertelendy A, et al. Terrorist Attacks in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1970 through 2020: Analysis and Impact from a Counter-Terrorism Medicine Perspective. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2023;38(2):216-22.
  • Schmeitz CTJ, Barten DG, van Barneveld KWY, et al. Terrorist Attacks Against Emergency Medical Services: Secondary Attacks are an Emerging Risk. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(2):185-91.
  • Kurt S. The effects of the “new terrorism” on the security environment of future: Daesh example. Acad View. 2019;13(25):133–61.
  • De Cauwer H, Somville F, Sabbe M, Mortelmans LJ. Hospitals: Soft Target for Terrorism?. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):94-100.
  • DeLuca MA, Chai PR, Goralnick E, Erickson TB. Five Decades of Global Chemical Terror Attacks: Data Analysis to Inform Training and Preparedness. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2021;15(6):750-61.
  • Yayla AS. Turkish ISIS and AQ foreign fighters: reconciling the numbers and perception of the terrorism threat. Stud Conflict Terror. 2021;44(12):1125–47.
  • Ozeren S, Van De Voorde C. Turkish Hizballah: a case study of radical terrorism. Int J Comp Appl Crim Justice. 2006;30(1):75–93.
  • Derin‐Güre P. Separatist terrorism and the economic conditions in southeastern Turkey. Def Peace Econ. 2011;22(4):393–407.
  • Institute for Economics & Peace. Global terrorism index 2022: measuring the impact of terrorism. 2022.
  • Aydın M. Geographical blessing versus geopolitical curse: great power security agendas for the Black Sea region and a Turkish alternative. Southeast Eur Black Sea Stud. 2009;9(3):271–85.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 23]. Fighting terrorism. Available from: https://www.iletisim.gov.tr/turkce/stratejik_iletisim_calismalari/detaylar/terorizmle-mucadele
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 23]. Turkey’s contributions to the international community’s anti-terrorism efforts. Available from: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkiye_nin-uluslararasi-toplumun-terorle-mucadele-cabalarina-katkilari.tr.mfa
  • Tin D, Hart A, Ciottone GR. Terrorism in China and the emerging needs for counter-terrorism medicine following a decade of deaths and injuries. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2021;36(3):270–5.
  • Overview of the GTD. [cited 2022 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/about/
  • National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism: about START. College Park, Maryland USA: START; 2021. [cited 2022 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.start.umd.edu/about/about-start
  • Global terrorism database. Codebook: methodology, inclusion criteria, and variables. 2021.
  • Terrorism. FBI. [cited 2023 Aug 26]. Available from: https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorism?__cf_chl_tk=PkuoqUwfJRNQ9WtHXzFYGg48z9D05uNOKrxDQv9W7AQ-1693048921-0-gaNycGzNCzs
  • Eriksen TH. Who or what to blame. Eur J Sociol. 2014;55(2):275–94.
  • Tin D, Barten DG, Goniewicz K, Burkle FM, Ciottone GR. An Epidemiological Analysis of Terrorism-Related Attacks in Eastern Europe from 1970 to 2019. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(4):468-73.
  • Tin D, Barten DG, De Cauwer H, Mortelmans LJ, Ciottone GR. Terrorist Attacks in Western Europe: A Counter-Terrorism Medicine Analysis. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(1):19-24.
  • Tin D, Hart A, Ciottone GR. A Decade of Terrorism in the United States and the Emergence of Counter-Terrorism Medicine. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2021;36(4):380-4.
  • Tin D, Barten DG, De Cauwer H, Ciottone GR. Transport Terrorism: A Counter-Terrorism Medicine Analysis. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(2):217–22.
  • Tin D, Abelanes SM, Bin Adnan MS, Kole T, Ciottone GR. Health Care Implications of Terrorist Attacks in South Asia. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(3):338-42.
  • Tin D, Fares S, Al Mulhim M, Ciottone GR. Terrorist Attacks in the Middle East: A Counter-Terrorism Medicine Analysis. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(2):212–6.
  • De Cauwer H, Granholm F, Khorram-Manesh A, et al. An Epidemiological Analysis of Terrorist Attacks in the Nordic and Baltic Countries from 1970 through 2020. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2023;38(3):401-8.
  • Kumar R. Study of wounds in victims of homicide by firearms and explosives. J Evol Med Dent Sci. 2013;2(44):8517–39.
  • Celik S, Dursun R, Aycan A, et al. The dynamics of prehospital/hospital care and modes of transport during civil conflict and terrorist incidents. Public Health. 2017;152:108-16.
  • Çalışkan C, Dağ N, Kınık K. Analysis of the Medical Consequences of Global Terrorist Attacks in Turkic States in the Last 50 Years by Weapon and Attack Type. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2023;17:e514.
  • Hata R, Hart A, Hertelendy A, et al. Terrorist Attacks in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1970 through 2020: Analysis and Impact from a Counter-Terrorism Medicine Perspective. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2023;38(2):216-22.
  • Malchow RJ, Black IH. The evolution of pain management in the critically ill trauma patient: Emerging concepts from the global war on terrorism. Crit Care Med. 2008;36(7 Suppl):346-57.
  • Weil YA, Peleg K, Givon A, Mosheiff R; Israeli Trauma Group. Penetrating and orthopaedic trauma from blast versus gunshots caused by terrorism: Israel's National Experience. J Orthop Trauma. 2011;25(3):145-9.
  • Molaie SH, Mahmoudi S, Goodarzi H, et al. Assessment of injuries following terrorist attacks: a narrative review. Trauma Mon. 2020;25(1):8–13.
  • Raux M, Carli P, Lapostolle F, et al. Analysis of the medical response to November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks: resource utilization according to the cause of injury. Intensive Care Med. 2019;45(9):1231-40.
  • Rozenfeld M, Givon A, Rivkind A, Bala M, Peleg K; Israeli Trauma Group (ITG). New Trends in Terrorism-Related Injury Mechanisms: Is There a Difference in Injury Severity?. Ann Emerg Med. 2019;74(5):697-705.
  • TTin D, Hertelendy AJ, Hart A, Ciottone GR. 50 Years of Mass-Fatality Terrorist Attacks: A Retrospective Study of Target Demographics, Modalities, and Injury Patterns to Better Inform Future Counter-Terrorism Medicine Preparedness and Response. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2021;36(5):531-5.
  • Bilgel F, Karahasan BC. The economic costs of separatist terrorism in Turkey. J Confl Resolut. 2017;61(2):457–79.
  • Çimen A, Yıldırım S, Bayraktutan Y. Terror incidents and economic growth: the case of Turkey. KOSBED. 2016;32:1–14.
  • Ashkenazi I, Kessel B, Olsha O, et al. Defining the problem, main objective, and strategies of medical management in mass-casualty incidents caused by terrorist events. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2008;23(1):82-9.
  • Seedat M, Van Niekerk A, Jewkes R, et al. Violence and injuries in South Africa: prioritising an agenda for prevention. Lancet. 2009;374:1011–22.

Türkiye’deki terörist saldırılar: Karşı-terörizm tıbbi analizi

Year 2024, Volume: 29 Issue: 2, 127 - 138, 29.05.2024
https://doi.org/10.21673/anadoluklin.1469126

Abstract

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, Türkiye’deki terörist saldırılar üzerine bir karşı terörizm tıbbı analizi gerçekleştirmektir.

Yöntemler: Bu çalışma, retrospektif kesitsel bir araştırmadır. Çalışma popülasyonu, 1970 ile 2020 yılları arasında Türkiye’de meydana gelen terörist olayları kapsamaktadır ve bu olaylar START Küresel Terörizm Veritabanı tarafından sağlanmıştır. Türkiye’deki terör saldırılarının çeşitli özellikleri analiz edilmiş ve tablo halinde sunulmuştur.

Bulgular: Geçtiğimiz 51 yıl içinde Türkiye’de toplam 4,485 terörist olay gerçekleşmiş, bu olayların %91,2’si terörist organizasyonlar tarafından planlandığı gibi hedeflerine ulaşmıştır. Bu olaylardan 2,767’si ekonomik olarak zarar verici etkilere sahiptir. Ayrıca, 17,570 kişi yaralanmış veya sağlık açısından olumsuz etkilenmiştir. Türkiye›deki 81 il içinde, en fazla terörist olayın yaşandığı ve en ciddi tıbbi sonuçların görüldüğü il İstanbul olmuştur.

Sonuç: Türkiye, özellikle İstanbul gibi büyükşehirler geçtiğimiz elli yılın özellikle son on yılında terörist olaylardan önemli ölçüde etkilenmiştir. Bu olaylar birçok bireyin sağlık ve ekonomik refahını olumsuz yönde etkilemiştir. Bunlara yanıt olarak, kamu otoritesi çeşitli güvenlik önlemleri ve hazırlık stratejileri uygulamıştır. Aynı zamanda terörist saldırıların olası sonuçlarını etkili bir şekilde ele alabilmek için sağlık hizmetleri hazırlığını artırma da kritik bir ihtiyaçtır. Bu hazırlıklar, karşı-terör tıbbı ve taktik tıp yeteneklerini ilerletmeyi, ayrıca kitlesel yaralanma yönetim sistemlerini güçlendirmeyi içermektedir. Bu iyileştirmeler, büyük çaplı acil durumlara daha etkili ve koordine bir yanıt verilmesine, daha fazla hayat kurtarılmasına ve toplum üzerindeki uzun vadeli etkilerin azaltılmasına katkıda bulunacaktır.

References

  • Hata R, Hart A, Hertelendy A, et al. Terrorist Attacks in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1970 through 2020: Analysis and Impact from a Counter-Terrorism Medicine Perspective. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2023;38(2):216-22.
  • Schmeitz CTJ, Barten DG, van Barneveld KWY, et al. Terrorist Attacks Against Emergency Medical Services: Secondary Attacks are an Emerging Risk. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(2):185-91.
  • Kurt S. The effects of the “new terrorism” on the security environment of future: Daesh example. Acad View. 2019;13(25):133–61.
  • De Cauwer H, Somville F, Sabbe M, Mortelmans LJ. Hospitals: Soft Target for Terrorism?. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):94-100.
  • DeLuca MA, Chai PR, Goralnick E, Erickson TB. Five Decades of Global Chemical Terror Attacks: Data Analysis to Inform Training and Preparedness. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2021;15(6):750-61.
  • Yayla AS. Turkish ISIS and AQ foreign fighters: reconciling the numbers and perception of the terrorism threat. Stud Conflict Terror. 2021;44(12):1125–47.
  • Ozeren S, Van De Voorde C. Turkish Hizballah: a case study of radical terrorism. Int J Comp Appl Crim Justice. 2006;30(1):75–93.
  • Derin‐Güre P. Separatist terrorism and the economic conditions in southeastern Turkey. Def Peace Econ. 2011;22(4):393–407.
  • Institute for Economics & Peace. Global terrorism index 2022: measuring the impact of terrorism. 2022.
  • Aydın M. Geographical blessing versus geopolitical curse: great power security agendas for the Black Sea region and a Turkish alternative. Southeast Eur Black Sea Stud. 2009;9(3):271–85.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 23]. Fighting terrorism. Available from: https://www.iletisim.gov.tr/turkce/stratejik_iletisim_calismalari/detaylar/terorizmle-mucadele
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 23]. Turkey’s contributions to the international community’s anti-terrorism efforts. Available from: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkiye_nin-uluslararasi-toplumun-terorle-mucadele-cabalarina-katkilari.tr.mfa
  • Tin D, Hart A, Ciottone GR. Terrorism in China and the emerging needs for counter-terrorism medicine following a decade of deaths and injuries. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2021;36(3):270–5.
  • Overview of the GTD. [cited 2022 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/about/
  • National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism: about START. College Park, Maryland USA: START; 2021. [cited 2022 Sep 20]. Available from: https://www.start.umd.edu/about/about-start
  • Global terrorism database. Codebook: methodology, inclusion criteria, and variables. 2021.
  • Terrorism. FBI. [cited 2023 Aug 26]. Available from: https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorism?__cf_chl_tk=PkuoqUwfJRNQ9WtHXzFYGg48z9D05uNOKrxDQv9W7AQ-1693048921-0-gaNycGzNCzs
  • Eriksen TH. Who or what to blame. Eur J Sociol. 2014;55(2):275–94.
  • Tin D, Barten DG, Goniewicz K, Burkle FM, Ciottone GR. An Epidemiological Analysis of Terrorism-Related Attacks in Eastern Europe from 1970 to 2019. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(4):468-73.
  • Tin D, Barten DG, De Cauwer H, Mortelmans LJ, Ciottone GR. Terrorist Attacks in Western Europe: A Counter-Terrorism Medicine Analysis. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(1):19-24.
  • Tin D, Hart A, Ciottone GR. A Decade of Terrorism in the United States and the Emergence of Counter-Terrorism Medicine. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2021;36(4):380-4.
  • Tin D, Barten DG, De Cauwer H, Ciottone GR. Transport Terrorism: A Counter-Terrorism Medicine Analysis. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(2):217–22.
  • Tin D, Abelanes SM, Bin Adnan MS, Kole T, Ciottone GR. Health Care Implications of Terrorist Attacks in South Asia. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(3):338-42.
  • Tin D, Fares S, Al Mulhim M, Ciottone GR. Terrorist Attacks in the Middle East: A Counter-Terrorism Medicine Analysis. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(2):212–6.
  • De Cauwer H, Granholm F, Khorram-Manesh A, et al. An Epidemiological Analysis of Terrorist Attacks in the Nordic and Baltic Countries from 1970 through 2020. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2023;38(3):401-8.
  • Kumar R. Study of wounds in victims of homicide by firearms and explosives. J Evol Med Dent Sci. 2013;2(44):8517–39.
  • Celik S, Dursun R, Aycan A, et al. The dynamics of prehospital/hospital care and modes of transport during civil conflict and terrorist incidents. Public Health. 2017;152:108-16.
  • Çalışkan C, Dağ N, Kınık K. Analysis of the Medical Consequences of Global Terrorist Attacks in Turkic States in the Last 50 Years by Weapon and Attack Type. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2023;17:e514.
  • Hata R, Hart A, Hertelendy A, et al. Terrorist Attacks in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1970 through 2020: Analysis and Impact from a Counter-Terrorism Medicine Perspective. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2023;38(2):216-22.
  • Malchow RJ, Black IH. The evolution of pain management in the critically ill trauma patient: Emerging concepts from the global war on terrorism. Crit Care Med. 2008;36(7 Suppl):346-57.
  • Weil YA, Peleg K, Givon A, Mosheiff R; Israeli Trauma Group. Penetrating and orthopaedic trauma from blast versus gunshots caused by terrorism: Israel's National Experience. J Orthop Trauma. 2011;25(3):145-9.
  • Molaie SH, Mahmoudi S, Goodarzi H, et al. Assessment of injuries following terrorist attacks: a narrative review. Trauma Mon. 2020;25(1):8–13.
  • Raux M, Carli P, Lapostolle F, et al. Analysis of the medical response to November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks: resource utilization according to the cause of injury. Intensive Care Med. 2019;45(9):1231-40.
  • Rozenfeld M, Givon A, Rivkind A, Bala M, Peleg K; Israeli Trauma Group (ITG). New Trends in Terrorism-Related Injury Mechanisms: Is There a Difference in Injury Severity?. Ann Emerg Med. 2019;74(5):697-705.
  • TTin D, Hertelendy AJ, Hart A, Ciottone GR. 50 Years of Mass-Fatality Terrorist Attacks: A Retrospective Study of Target Demographics, Modalities, and Injury Patterns to Better Inform Future Counter-Terrorism Medicine Preparedness and Response. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2021;36(5):531-5.
  • Bilgel F, Karahasan BC. The economic costs of separatist terrorism in Turkey. J Confl Resolut. 2017;61(2):457–79.
  • Çimen A, Yıldırım S, Bayraktutan Y. Terror incidents and economic growth: the case of Turkey. KOSBED. 2016;32:1–14.
  • Ashkenazi I, Kessel B, Olsha O, et al. Defining the problem, main objective, and strategies of medical management in mass-casualty incidents caused by terrorist events. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2008;23(1):82-9.
  • Seedat M, Van Niekerk A, Jewkes R, et al. Violence and injuries in South Africa: prioritising an agenda for prevention. Lancet. 2009;374:1011–22.
There are 39 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Emergency Medicine
Journal Section ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Authors

Kerem Kınık 0000-0002-6913-5312

Nihal Dağ 0000-0001-6043-1855

Hüseyin Koçak 0000-0001-8377-1828

Cüneyt Çalışkan 0000-0003-0232-1118

Publication Date May 29, 2024
Submission Date April 16, 2024
Acceptance Date May 9, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 29 Issue: 2

Cite

Vancouver Kınık K, Dağ N, Koçak H, Çalışkan C. Terrorist attacks in Türkiye: An analysis of counter-terrorism medicine. Anatolian Clin. 2024;29(2):127-38.

13151 This Journal licensed under a CC BY-NC (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0) International License.