The FBI is the lead federal agency in the fight against terrorism in the United States.  As such, the FBI is responsible for the detection, prevention, investigation and prosecution of the criminal activities of terrorist groups and individuals in the United States.

The FBI defines terrorism as the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, its civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.  International terrorism is generally considered to be foreign based, directed or supported, while domestic terrorism is conducted by U.S. citizens without such foreign influence.

In the last several years, the nation has witnessed a new trend in terrorism.  Relatively minor, systematic acts of terrorism have given way to less frequent but much more destructive attacks designed to produce more casualties and attract greater media coverage.

Through the Counterterrorism Program, the FBI plays a major role in the planning for the security of special events, such as the 2002 Olympics.  Personnel from the Louisville Division were sent to Salt Lake to assist with this event.

Another very important aspect of the FBI's Counterterrorism Program is the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) subprogram.  In this capacity, the Louisville Division is responsible for carrying out the FBI's lead federal agency role in response to attacks or threats of attack using nuclear, biological or chemical weapons within its territory. The Louisville Division maintains regular liaison with its local, state and other federal partners in this arena throughout the state of Kentucky.