Crisis Management Days

AMOK Violence in Hybrid Public Spaces: An Integrated Criminological, Sociological, and Security Analysis

Damir Pišković

SIGURNOST OKOLIŠA I EKOLOŠKI ASPEKTI KATASTROFA I KRIZA

Davor Solomun

Marijan Jozić

Keywords: AMOK, hybrid public spaces, sociological framework, police response, police tactics, national security

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Abstract

AMOK violence represents one of the most complex and least predictable forms of contemporary mass violence, particularly when it occurs in so-called hybrid public spaces. These spaces are characterized by high population density, functional diversity, and limited possibilities for surveillance or control. This paper builds upon previous research that conceptualized AMOK incidents as complex threats to hybrid public environments, further advancing the analysis through an empirical examination of structural and sociological risk indicators and their relationship with operational outcomes. 

This study aims to examine the relationships between operational, spatial, and sociological indicators in real AMOK incidents and to assess their role in shaping the dynamics and outcomes of violence in hybrid public spaces. The core of the analysis is based on a comparative empirical study conducted on a sample of 40 real cases from Europe and the United States, with primary data collected from official, publicly available, and open sources. As the principal instrument of this case study research, an originally developed analytical matrix is employed, comprising 20 variables that serve as both qualitative and quantitative indicators of the incidents.

The results indicate that AMOK violence cannot be fully understood solely through individual motives or strictly tactical approaches. It is essential to consider the interaction between police response time, spatial characteristics, and sociological risk indicators, particularly social isolation, cumulative social strain, and the structural invisibility of perpetrators.

This study contributes to a deeper theoretical and empirical understanding of AMOK violence as a complex security issue. It emphasizes the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to its analysis and prevention. Particular importance is placed on recognizing and understanding the structural patterns of risk within contemporary security systems, as without such insight and a holistic approach, this complex security threat remains insufficiently understood and does not enable effective anticipation or assessment of uncertainty in the security of modern risk societies.

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Author Biographies

Davor Solomun

University of Applied Sciences for Criminal Investigation and Public Safety

Marijan Jozić

University of Applied Sciences for Criminal Investigation and Public Safety

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