Our Mission
As active members of the Counter-Terrorism Medicine Europe- Special Interest Group, we aim to create a research-based portal for exchanging ideas and learning from experience and research.
Counter-Terrorism Medicine is a novel medical discipline requiring a paradigm shift from the traditional response used to prioritise scene safety before the patient, leading to delays in treatment that could negatively affect both the patient and the rescuer.
CTM is an ever-changing field and has seen novel tactics and asymmetric warfare features crawling into the civilian environments, creating a new set of challenges for clinicians, emergency responders and major incident commanders.
Standardisation
Standardization can improve the chances of survival for people with life-threatening injuries. From public access trauma kits to first aid preparedness, essential guidance can make a difference in the outcome of such events.
Preparedness
Preparedness will help healthcare professionals and disaster medicine specialists respond to the unique challenges of terrorist events on patient, worker, and facility safety; CBRNE threats; psychological consequences; initial response; risk-based assessment
Response
A data-driven (using predictive analytics) response in counter-terrorism medicine can be achieved. We now know that demand for medical and mental health care can exceed resources after a terrorist event. It's essential to prepare for and respond to the psychological effects of terrorism to protect the health and well-being of citizens.
Responding to chemical weapons and other damaging weapons
Counter-terrorism medicine research and discussion topics include how to respond to chemical weapons, cluster munitions, and other damaging weapons encountered in a civilian setting.
Predicting rare events
Predicting infrequent events is difficult, so risk assessment is best done on a case-by-case basis. Education and research remain crucial in improving the healthcare response to such events.
CTM-E promotes using academic literature and research, gaining an evidence-based understanding of terrorist ideologies, structures, tactics and targets and the impact that terrorist groups and networks have, both in Europe, on healthcare settings and emergency services.
Terrorist attacks (completed, failed, foiled) and arrests for terrorist offences in the EU, 2021 - 2023
2023 noted an increase compared to 2022 (28 attacks) and 2021 (18 attacks). Most of the attacks (70), all completed, were attributed to separatist terrorist groups in Corsica, France.
(*Source: EU Member States contribution to EU TE-SAT 2024)
Number of fatalities due to terrorist attacks in the European Union from 2010 to 2022
Published by Statista Research Department, Oct 2, 2024
Terrorist attacks (completed, failed, foiled) and arrests for terrorist offences in the EU, 2021 - 2023
*In 2023, 120 terrorist attacks were recorded in the EU. Of the 120 attacks, 98 were completed, 9 failed, and 13 were foiled. Most of the attacks took place in France.