A terrorist organisation is an organisation that engages in terrorist tactics, they are also (perhaps more neutrally) referred to as militant organisations.
The following groups are considered to be terrorist by a significant number of observers, though opinion is not uniform.
At least two features make objective assessment of which organisations are terrorist difficult:
the definition of terrorism is disputed and
the facts about the actions and motives of these groups are disputed.
The cliché, "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" has some relevance as, while Terrorism can technically be defined as politically motivated violence against non-combatants, use of the term is uneven and dependent on the observer's political perspective and moral judgement. Use of the term often carries moral weight beyond its technical use. "Militant" is a more neutral term to describe so-called "terrorist" groups. Militant groups themselves rarely claim to be committing terrorism and often justify their acts as defence against state oppression or terrorism by opposing groups.
This list does not include government actions that could be labelled terrorism; instead, see state terrorism. The U.S. State Department maintains a list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, groups that the U.S. government considers terrorist, but these designations are far from universally accepted.
Nagaland Rebels (1948-present) Active in predominately Christian state in Hindu India. Involved in several bombings in 2004. Goal: Independence from Hindu India after annexing parts of neighboring Indian states and Burma if it has Christian majority.
Ku Klux Klan A racist Protestant Christian organization with a history of violence against Afro-Americans, Jews, and Catholics.
Anti-Abortion Terrorism Activities include bombing abortion clinics, killing doctors and nurses. A member, Eric Robert Rudolph was charged with Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the Olympics and a health clinic in Birmingham, Alabama.
Supporters of the PIRA split from 'Official' Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Workers' Party).
Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1997
Splinter groups:
Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
Also known as the "Continuity Army Council" and "Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for 'Volunteers of Ireland')
Also called the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF.
On February 22, 2003, announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months.
Shiv Sena Extremist political party in India designated by Pakistan as a terrorist group. The group has been involved in several religious riots that lead to the death of several thousands.
Seeks to establish Islamist rule in Egypt. Usually targets secular establishments, government buildings, police, the military, Coptic Christians, tourists, Jews, and “morally offensive” buildings.
Seeks to establish Islamist rule in Algeria. Began operations in 1992 after the Algerian government ignored election results that gave victory to Islamist political parties.
Also known as Qa‘idat al-Jihad, Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Places, World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders, Islamic Salvation Foundation, and the Usama bin Laden Network.
Lebanese Hizbollah (1982-present; Shiite Lebanese Islamists and Palestinian nationalists; Lebanon)
In Arabic, "Party of God." Hezbollah claims that it has never committed any acts of terror, and normally restricts its operations to Israeli military targets in Lebanon and the Shebaa Farms. However, it is alleged to have been involved in the bombing of Jewish civilian targets in Argentina in 1992 - the Israeli embassy, killing 29 - and in 1994 - a Jewish community centre, killing 95. [12]
Also known as Hezbollah, Hizbullah, Huzbollah, Hizbalah, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, and the Revolutionary Justice Organization.
Formed as an umbrella group of eight Palestinian nationalist organizations devoted to dismantling Israel headquartered in Damascus, Syria and Beirut, Lebanon.
Joined the PLO in 1968 and became the second-largest PLO faction, after Arafat's al-Fatah, but withdrew in 1974, accusing the group of moving away from the goal of destroying Israel outright.
Splinter group from the PFLP, founded by Ahmed Jibril. Declared its focus would be military, not political. Was a member of the PLO, but left in 1974 for the same reasons as PFLP.
Marxist-Leninist group that believes Palestinian national goals can be achieved only through revolution of the masses. Split into two factions in 1991; Nayif Hawatmah leads the majority and more hard-line faction, which continue to dominate the group. Joined with other rejectionist groups to form the Alliance of Palestinian Forces (APF) to oppose the Declaration of Principals signed in 1993. Broke from the APF - along with the PFLP - over ideological differences. Has made limited moves toward merging with the PFLP since the mid-1990s.
Supporters of the PIRA split from 'Official' Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Workers' Party).
Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1997
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam aka LTTE - Sri Lanka. One of the largest terrorist group with 10,000 Tamils who wanted liberation from Singhalese government. The group has carried out 240+ suicide bombings since early 80s in the process of their freedom struggle.
Also called the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF.
On February 22, 2003, announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months.
Earth Liberation Front - USA (radical environmentalist) - claims to avoid harming people or animals, but is considered by the FBI to be a terrorist group, and vice versa
