The Definition of Terrorism CM 7052 - Official Documents

• Mere preaching or glorification should not be capable of being regarded as
terrorist offences
• Terrorism in a just cause, on the basis that what is terrorism against an
oppressive regime may be justifiable if to assist freedom fighters
49. On the last of those points I have received strong representations, not least from
Members of Parliament, that to act in a just cause should be a defence in law to acts
of terrorism, on the basis that there is no real difficulty in showing a clear
distinction between freedom fighters and terrorists.
50. So far as offences against property are concerned, I have no doubt that these and
threats to damage property should be included in any definition. Damage to
property can induce a real sense of terror for the future.There is no difficulty in
producing examples. A threat to explode bombs on the London Underground
would produce both physical fear and practical difficulty for commuters and severe
economic consequences. The bombing of schools at weekends or in the school
holidays, accompanied by a threat that future bombings might not be limited to out
of school times, would hold the pupils of those schools and everybody else
associated with them in a state of terror for a considerable time, even if nothing
more happened.The major disruption by damage of the gas or electricity systems
of cities and towns would cause a risk to the lives of those exposed to danger by
sudden power losses, as well as widespread economic damage to the nation. All
these are real examples of terrorism.
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