Professor Paul Mullen

So it is a group enterprise, even if it's only one man who goes out to kill and to die.

They seek martyrdom.

They do not seek personal fame.

They seek to publicize their cause.

And as I said, they are very much socialized within their potentially violent set of believers.

So in practice, it's usually very easy to tell the difference.

But, of course, sometimes it isn't.

If you look at the incel killers, which you mentioned earlier, I mean, they're a real problem.

Are they terrorists?

And they plan it themselves rather than usually planning it jointly.

They have some of the characteristics of the other, the more common mass killers.

They're full of resentment and anger.

They feel their life has become intolerable, so they're seeking suicide.

But they're also seeking martyrdom because they believe, you know, they will forward the cause of male dominance.

as if anyone needs to forward that particular cause, sadly.

So, again, they have a touch of the terrorist and a touch of what I would call the standard mass killer.

I don't know that knowing the difference it is.

What we want to know is enough about these people to try and prevent it, to cut short this road they're on.

So the more we know about them, the more we know what motivates them.

the more we know what will make it less appealing for them to commit these crimes, the better.