Greatest Crimes of All Time

A look at what motivates the most ruthless killers in the world and how they can be stopped.

For the police, hostage-taking is one of the worst situations they face. A look at what motivates hostage-takers, how violent they are, and whether they will actually risk innocent lives.

Despite the violence of their actions, most killers of women manage to create a perfect social environment in which no one recognises their true nature.

Gang bosses dominate the underworld, make millions from organised crime and drug trafficking, and even wage wars against their own country to protect their interests.

They kill stealthily, calmly and quietly, and for all sorts of reasons: for a twisted sense of righteousness, for power over life and death, or simply for money.

Serial killers tend to choose their victims at random, with their murders having only one thing in common: the bodies are horribly disfigured. For investigators, they pose a huge challenge.