Which is the correct sequence of the five phases of terrorist attacks?

• A. Negotiation, Preincident, Initiation, Climax, Post incident.
• B. Initiation, Negotiation, Preincident, Post incident, Climax
• C. Preincident, Negotiation, Climax, Initiation, Post incident
• D. Post incident, Preincident, Negotiation, Initiation, Climax

Answer: (A)

Understanding the sequence of terrorist attack phases helps you see how a crisis unfolds from start to finish and where responders’ actions fit in. The first phase, Negotiation, reflects how many incidents begin with or quickly involve negotiators trying to resolve the situation or gain time, shaping the tempo and terms of what follows. After that comes Preincident, which covers the attacker’s planning and preparation activities that occur after the initial contact but before the main assault. The actual attack starts in the Initiation phase. The Climax is the peak moment of violence or confrontation—the height of the crisis—followed by Post incident, which encompasses the response, stabilization, investigation, and recovery afterward. This order mirrors how a real incident tends to evolve: negotiation and timing set the stage, preparation leads to action, the attack occurs, the crisis reaches its peak, and then the aftermath comes last.