16 Dec 2014 – World: Jewish first night of Hannukah; lasts one week.
18 Dec 1988 – Philippines: Abdurajik Abubaker Janjalani was killed in a gun battle with Filipino forces. He was the founder of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist organisation in the Philippines.
21 Dec 1988 – United Kingdom: Pan Am Flight 103 a Boeing 747 was destroyed in flight between the United Kingdom and the United States over Lockerbie, Scotland, United Kingdom killing all 259 personnel on board and a further 11 on the ground.
22 Dec 2001 – France/US: Richard Reid (the Shoe Bomber) attempted to blow up American Airlines Flight 63 flying from France to the United States.
25 Dec 2014 – World: Christian Christmas Day.
25 Dec 2009 – United States: Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempts to detonate plastic explosives aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 en route to Detroit. Attempt fails; al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claims responsibility for the failed attack.
27 Dec 2002 – Russia: Suicide bombers detonate two explosives-filled trucks at Chechnya’s pro-Moscow government building, killing 72 and injuring 210.
31 Dec 2014 – World: Christian New year.
Dates are taken from the NCTC terrorist calendar and 361 Security Significant dates.