Sting

A sting is a deceptive law enforcement tactic designed to gather evidence regarding violent actions by "revolutionaries". The law enforcement agency, in the United States, usually the FBI, but potentially any professional law enforcement agency or combination of agencies such as the, uses intelligence it has gathered using surveillance and infiltration of the target group. When talk in the group turns to the need for increased militancy or "revolution" police agents or informants who have infiltrated the group offer to provide expertise and access to supplies for violent actions, typically construction of a bomb.

A series of stings were used to entrap Islamic militants in the United States after 9/11 and in April, 2012 to entrap a small group of Occupy activists.

It is usually difficult to determine in specific cases whether the violent plans originated with the militants or the police agents; however, competently and honestly done, a sting is a legal, and legitimate, method of preventing and controlling domestic terrorism.

As confidence game
A sting is an elaborate, and very interesting, used by criminals to defraud. The classic sting is elaborately portrayed in the movie starring.

As a tactic
There are obvious possibilities for the use or exploitation of sting operations for intelligence purposes.

External links and further reading

 * Sting operation
 * "What is Entrapment" Slate Sept. 21, 1999