Research has shown criminal opportunities tend to cluster in time and space. These spatiotemporal patterns form the theoretical and empirical underpinnings for practical applications in criminal investigations or intelligence analysis. However, the majority of the research tends to focus on the role of geographical features in criminal behavior and tends to pass over the importance of temporality.
In this case study we examine terrorist attacks registered in the Global Terrorism Database. Especially we delimitate our interest to attacks occurred in France during two time periods (1970-2012; 2008-2012). We observe some spatial and/or temporal patterns, even the so-called microcycles of violence. Moreover, we unveil one of the clusters more in depth and share some insights on the what, where and when. The implications of the findings are discussed for the future outlook of a larger ongoing research project.