In addition to examining terrorism-related acts, the report also includes other instances of violence that have affected Americans. The selection of incidents documented was based on the following criteria: lethality, substantial property damage, use of unusual tactics or weapons, and perceptibility of targets as American or representative of American interests. Of the 135 incidents that involved U.S. citizens and interests in 1997, 127 specifically targeted Americans. There were 91 incidents in South America, 5 in Sub-Saharan Africa, 5 in East Asia and the Pacific, 23 in Europe, 7 in Near East Asia, and 4 in South Asia. In South America, 87 incidents targeted U.S. business, 3 targeted the U.S. Government, and 1 targeted a private individual. In South America, the types of attacks involved armed assault (1), bombing (71), grenade (5), attempted grenade (1), kidnapping (4), murder (1), seizure (1), vandalism (3), and violent demonstration (4). In Sub-Saharan Africa, types of attack were attempted assassination (1), attempted kidnapping (1), armed attack (1), and detention (2). In East Asia and the Pacific, types of attack were bombing (2), attempted bombing (1), armed attack (1), and violent demonstration (1). Separate data are provided for Americans in captivity in 1997. The analysis of the 10-year trend includes a statistical overview, a chronology of lethal attacks against Americans, Americans in captivity, and Operation Desert Storm.