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Updated January 11, 2018
Terrorism in Europe
Current Trends
on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a kosher market); 2 in
European governments and the European Union (EU) have
the February attacks in Denmark at a Copenhagen cafe and
grappled with domestic and foreign terrorist groups for
synagogue; and 130 in attacks in Paris in November. In
decades, but a spate of recent attacks has renewed concerns
2016, fatalities from jihadist terrorism included 32 in the
about terrorism and violent extremism in Europe. Despite
March bombings in Brussels; 86 in the July truck attack in
variances in how terrorist events are defined and tracked,
Nice, France; and 12 in a December truck attack in Berlin,
studies indicate a considerable number of incidents over the
Germany. Authorities also report a steady uptick in arrests
last few years, as demonstrated by data from Europol (the
related to religious/jihadist terrorism (see Figure 1).
EU’s agency for police cooperation) in Table 1.
Figure 1. Terrorism-Related Arrests in the EU
Table 1. Terrorism-Related Attacks in the EU
(includes failed, foiled, and completed attacks)
Attacks
Year
(# of countries)
Deaths
Injuries
Arrests
2013
152 (5)
7
9
535
2014
201 (7)
4
6
774
2015
211 (6)
151
350+
1077
2016
142 (8)
142
379
1002
Source: Data taken from Europol’s Terrorism Situation and Trend
Source: Europol’s TE-SAT publications, 2012-2017.
Report (TE-SAT) publications, 2014-2017.
Other types of terrorists remain active in Europe, as well.
Of primary concern to Europe is “violent Islamist” or
Most nationalist/separatist attacks in 2016 were attributed
“jihadist” terrorism. Since 2014, there has been an increase
to dissident republican groups in Northern Ireland, while
in attacks classified by Europol as “religious” or “jihadist”
left-wing/anarchist attacks occurred in Italy, Greece, and
in motivation (see Table 2). Terrorism experts assess that
Spain. Security services warn about right-wing extremism
the Islamic State organization (IS, also known as ISIS or
amid what some view as a rise in anti-immigrant and
ISIL) currently poses the most severe terrorist threat.
xenophobic sentiments in Europe; actions by right-wing
Worries also persist about Al Qaeda and its affiliates and
extremists, however, often are classified as hate crimes
anti-Israel groups, such as Hezbollah.
rather than terrorism. Authorities in several European
countries, including Germany, report an uptick in violent
Table 2. Terrorist Attacks and Fatalities by Type
acts by members of far-right groups. In the United
2014
2015
2016
Kingdom (UK), a far-right, anti-immigrant extremist
Type of Attack
Attacks
Attacks
Attacks
murdered a Member of Parliament in June 2016, and a man
(Fatalities)
(Fatalities)
(Fatalities)
with alleged anti-Muslim views was charged with terrorism
in a van attack outside a London mosque in June 2017.
Religious/Jihadist
2 (4)
17 (150)
13 (135)
The Islamic State and Europe
Nationalist/Separatist
67 (0)
65 (0)
99 (6)
European policymakers are alarmed by the Islamic State’s
Left-Wing/Anarchist
13 (0)
13 (1)
27 (0)
connections to and influence in Europe. Many assailants—
including most of those responsible for the large-scale
Right-Wing Extremist
0 (0)
9 (0)
1 (1)
attacks in Paris and Brussels in 2015 and 2016—were
Single-Issue
1 (0)
0 (0)
0 (0)
European citizens who had trained and/or fought with the
Islamic State in Syria and/or Iraq. Experts believe that these
Not Specified
116 (0)
107 (0)
2 (0)
two attacks may have been steered by the Islamic State
Source: Europol’s TE-SAT publications, 2015-2017.
from Syria. Roughly 5,000 EU citizens have traveled to
Syria or Iraq to become “foreign fighters” for the Islamic
Attacks by violent Islamist extremists have been much
State or other groups since 2011. Studies estimate that
more lethal than other types of terrorism, accounting for
roughly 30% of these fighters have returned to Europe.
nearly all of the recent fatalities and casualties. The four
Over the past year, concerns have grown that the Islamic
people killed in 2014 were shot at the Jewish Museum in
State also may be seeking to direct attacks from Libya
Brussels, Belgium, by a suspect who reportedly spent a year
given the group’s presence and activities there.
fighting in Syria. In 2015, jihadist terrorism claimed the
lives of 17 in the January attacks in Paris, France (including
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Terrorism in Europe
Other perpetrators of recent attacks in Europe are believed
June 19, France: A French-born man (of Tunisian descent)
to be “lone wolves” motivated by Islamic State propaganda.
drove a car with guns and explosives into a police vehicle
The Islamic State encourages followers in Western
on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The assailant—the only
countries to murder “disbelievers,” offers detailed
person killed—was on a French security watch list and
instructions, and promotes methods for carrying out attacks,
reportedly had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
including the use of large vehicles as weapons. The Islamic
State claims that those responsible for attacks are its
June 20, Belgium: A Moroccan national detonated a small
“soldiers,” but there is often little to suggest that such
explosive device at a Brussels train station, killing only
individuals are acting under direct orders from or with the
himself. The Islamic State claimed responsibility, but
assistance of the Islamic State. Authorities note that the
authorities assessed that the bomber acted alone.
Islamic State has heightened calls for its followers to attack
August 17-18, Spain: Twelve men, most of Moroccan
in Europe amid territorial losses in Syria and Iraq and as
origin, carried out several attacks in and around Barcelona,
travel to these conflict zones has become more difficult.
killing 16 people (including one American) and injuring
European officials remain concerned that Islamic State
over 100. Most fatalities were due to a van attack on Las
terrorists could enter Europe as part of the recent refugee
Ramblas Boulevard. The Islamic State asserted that the
assailants were its “soldiers
and migrant flows. Two of the November 2015 Paris
.”
attackers may have entered Europe by posing as refugees
August 18, Finland: A Moroccan asylum-seeker killed two
with fake Syrian passports. Also, several “lone wolf”
and injured eight with a knife in Turku. Charged with
attacks have elevated fears that some refugees or migrants
committing these acts with terrorist intent, the suspect
(especially youths) could be particularly vulnerable to
appears to have been inspired by the Islamic State.
radicalization due to feeling marginalized or dislocated.
Selected Terrorism Incidents in 2017
August 26, Belgium: A Belgian citizen (of Somali descent)
injured three soldiers in Brussels in a knife attack. The
Various incidents in 2017 reinforced concerns about the
Islamic State claimed the perpetrator was its “soldier.”
Islamic State’s ability to direct or inspire attacks in Europe.
The selected events below are drawn from media reports.
August 26, UK: A UK national (of Bangladeshi descent)
attempted to attack police officers with a sword outside
March 22, UK: A British citizen drove a car into a group
Buckingham Palace in London. The perpetrator has been
of people on Westminster Bridge in London, outside of
charged with terrorist intent, and reports suggest he may
Parliament, and stabbed a police officer. Five people died
have been inspired by Islamic State propaganda.
(including one American), and roughly 50 were injured.
The Islamic State claimed the assailant was its “soldier,”
September 15, UK: An 18-year-old Iraqi asylum-seeker
but authorities believe he acted alone.
was charged with planting a bomb that partially exploded
on a subway train at Parsons Green station in London,
April 7, Sweden: An Uzbekistan national drove a truck
injuring 30. The Islamic State claimed responsibility, but
into a crowd in a Stockholm shopping area, killing 5 and
authorities doubt that the group was directly involved.
injuring 14. Swedish police asserted that the assailant
expressed sympathy for the Islamic State, and Uzbek
October 1, France: A Tunisian national fatally stabbed
officials claimed he was recruited by the group.
two women at a train station in Marseille. The Islamic State
claimed the assailant acted on its behalf.
April 20, France: A French citizen fatally shot a police
officer and wounded three other people on the Champs-
European Responses and Challenges
Élysées boulevard in Paris. The Islamic State claimed
European governments have employed various measures to
responsibility. The attacker was known to French security
combat Islamist terrorism and foreign fighters, including
services but was not viewed as an imminent threat.
increasing surveillance and prohibiting travel, and they
have thwarted a number of plots. The EU has sought to
May 22, UK: A British citizen (of Libyan descent) carried
enhance intelligence sharing among national and EU
out a suicide bombing after a music concert in Manchester,
authorities, strengthen external border controls, and
killing 22 and wounding over 500. The Islamic State
improve counter-radicalization efforts, especially online
claimed responsibility. Some reports suggest that the
and in prisons. Nevertheless, challenges persist. Law
bomber was in contact with Islamic State fighters in Libya.
enforcement and intelligence capacities vary across Europe.
Authorities have encountered difficulties monitoring a
June 3, UK: Three men drove a van into pedestrians on
growing number of potential assailants amid budgetary and
London Bridge and then attacked people with knives in the
personnel constraints. National sovereignty concerns and
Borough Market area, killing 8 and injuring 48. The
civil liberty protections also may impede information
attackers were inspired by the Islamic State, which claimed
sharing among European countries and, at times, have
that the men were its fighters. At least one—a Pakistani-
slowed EU-wide antiterrorism initiatives. Also see CRS
born British citizen—was known to UK security services.
Report RS22030, U.S.-EU Cooperation Against Terrorism.
June 6, France: An Algerian man attacked police officers
with a hammer at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, wounding
Kristin Archick, Specialist in European Affairs
one. The assailant claimed allegiance to the Islamic State
IF10561
but was likely self-radicalized.
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Terrorism in Europe
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