Terror threat

Vehicles Are Becoming the Weapons of Choice for Terrorists

Bombs, guns and knives have long been the tools of choice for terrorists, but the latest form of deadly mass violence has weaponized something far more mundane: motor vehicles.

Five of the last six multiple-casualty terrorist attacks in Western Europe have used trucks, vans or SUVs that are driven into public crowds, sometimes over long stretches before the attackers are brought to a stop. The violence sometimes continues when attackers flee their vehicles and inflict further damage in the surrounding area.

As this timeline shows, terrorism that begins with vehicle contact has been particularly deadly in the last few years...