Meaning of “terrorism” and “terrorist act”

(1) In this Act “terrorism” and “terrorist act” mean the action or threat of action where– (a) the action– (i) constitutes an offence within the scope of a counter terrorism convention listed in the Schedule IV; or (ii) falls within sub-section (2); (b) subject to sub-section (3), the use or threat of action is intended, or by its nature and context, 28[CAP. 104 Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) may reasonably be regarded as being intended, to– (i) influence the government of any country or part of a country, or an international organisation; or (ii) intimidate the public or section of the public; and (c) the action is carried out or threat of action is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause. (2) Action falls within this sub-section if it– (a) involves serious violence against a person; (b) involves serious damage to property; (c) endangers a person’s life, other than that of the person committing the action; (d) creates a serious risk to national security or the health or safety of the public or a section of the public; (e) is designed or intended to seriously interfere with or seriously disrupt– (i) any electronic system, including a computer system or system for the provision of services directly related to communications, banking or financial services; or (ii) the provision of essential emergency services such as police, civil defence or medical service or other essential such as utilities or transportation; (f) involves the unlawful seizure of aircraft in flight; (g) involves unlawful violence against the safety of maritime navigation; (h) involves participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation, including the providing of operational support or technical assistance, providing or receiving training to facilitate commission of terrorist acts or recruiting for such training; or (i) involves travel for the purpose of planning, preparing or carrying out any action referred to in paragraphs (a) to (h). (3) The use or threat of action falling within sub-section (2) which involves the use of firearms or explosives is terrorism or a terrorist act whether or not any condition of sub-section (1)(b) is met. (4) In this section– (a) “action” includes action outside Belize; (b) reference to any person or property is a reference to any person or property wherever situated; (c) reference to the public includes a reference to the public of any country other than Belize; or (d) reference to an action taken for the purposes of terrorism includes action taken for the benefit of a terrorist organisation. 30[CAP. 104 Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention)