Which are recognized categories of terrorism?

• A. Domestic, International, Lone Actor
• B. Local, National, Global
• C. Urban, Rural, Cyber
• D. Religious, Political, Economic

Answer: (A)

Understanding how terrorism is categorized helps explain how investigations and responses are shaped. Domestic terrorism refers to acts carried out within a single country by individuals or groups targeting that country’s government or its citizens, with no foreign involvement. International terrorism involves cross-border elements—acts connected to foreign organizations, networks, or travel that span more than one country. Lone actor describes individuals who operate independently, not as part of a formal organization, even if they are ideologically influenced.

These three categories are widely used because they reflect the relationship between the attacker, their support network, and borders, which matters for intelligence gathering and coordination across agencies. Other labels mix geography (local, national, global) or contexts (urban, rural, cyber) or focus on motive (religious, political, economic), but they don’t capture the standard organizational and cross-border distinctions that guide law enforcement and policy.