Ted Kaczynski
Ted Kaczynski was an American mathematician and domestic terrorist known as the Unabomber.
Between 1978 and 1995, he carried out a nationwide mail bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others.
What it is
Ted Kaczynski, born in 1942 in Illinois, was a mathematics prodigy who earned a doctorate from the University of Michigan and briefly taught at UC Berkeley before retreating to a remote Montana cabin. From there, he conducted a 17-year mail bombing campaign targeting people he associated with modern technology.
Key details
His attacks killed three people and injured 23. After a long FBI investigation, he was identified and arrested in 1996. He pleaded guilty in 1998 and received a life sentence without parole. Kaczynski died in federal custody on June 10, 2023.
Why it matters
Kaczynski’s case remains a touchstone in North American discussions of domestic terrorism and radicalization. His crimes and the FBI’s response were widely reported in Canada, and the broader security implications continue to inform policy debates.
In short
- He was a mathematics prodigy who became a domestic terrorist.
- His bombing campaign spanned 17 years, killing three and injuring 23.
- He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
- He died in federal custody in 2023.
Kaczynski’s crimes and the FBI investigation were widely reported in Canada and remain part of North American discussions of domestic terrorism, radicalization, and security policy.
Quick questions
Who was Ted Kaczynski?
Why was he called the Unabomber?
How many people did he kill and injure?
Sources
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_KaczynskiSupports: Birth and death dates, biography, bombing campaign, arrest, sentence, and nickname.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ted-KaczynskiSupports: Education, academic career, Montana retreat, bombing campaign, manifesto, arrest, and life sentence.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation — https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/unabomberSupports: FBI investigation timeline, bombing campaign, casualties, and arrest.
- Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/crime/ted-kaczynskiSupports: Academic background, bombing campaign, manifesto, arrest, imprisonment, and death.