Terrorist attack or school shooting?

Columbine is typically labelled as a school shooting. I don’t think this is entirely accurate given the scale of the plan and the desired objective.

Given what we know about the plan and the history behind the boys motives. I’m interested to know if one would label the action as a school shooting or a terrorist attack? Or I suppose it could be more accurately described as a terrorist attack which turned into a school shooting?

I know this doesn’t particularly add much to the conversation but I am interested to know how the attack is perceived.

The intended scope of the plan being a bombing, correct? What actually occurred was a school shooting, though you could say it was intended as a mixed-type school attack.

FBI wrote:

Domestic terrorism: Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.

Based on this definition, I don't think it would be considered terrorism.

How are you defining a terrorist attack such that you would label this shooting one?

It’s not a terrorist attack because the motive was not religious or political.


Yes, it was a failed bombing but bombings are not exclusive to terror attacks.

It was definitely not terrorism.

Tesla101 wrote:

Columbine is typically labelled as a school shooting. I don’t think this is entirely accurate given the scale of the plan and the desired objective.

Given what we know about the plan and the history behind the boys motives. I’m interested to know if one would label the action as a school shooting or a terrorist attack? Or I suppose it could be more accurately described as a terrorist attack which turned into a school shooting?

I know this doesn’t particularly add much to the conversation but I am interested to know how the attack is perceived.

False Flag