Terrorism in Europe

Terrorism in Europe

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Updated February 10, 2021
Terrorism in Europe
Current Trends
right-wing extremists may be classified as hate crimes or
European governments and the European Union (EU) have
other offenses rather than terrorism. In 2016, a far-right,
grappled with domestic and foreign terrorist groups for
anti-immigrant extremist killed a member of the UK
decades, but numerous attacks since 2014 have renewed
Parliament. In Germany in 2019, a right-wing extremist
concerns about terrorism and violent extremism in Europe.
murdered a local politician in June and another killed two
Despite variances in how terrorist events are defined and
people in an October incident that included an attempted
tracked, studies indicate that terrorism poses a security
attack on a synagogue during Yom Kippur. In France and
threat in many European countries (see data from Europol,
Germany, authorities have disrupted several far-right plots
the EU’s agency for police cooperation, in Figure 1).
against Muslims or foreigners over the last few years.
European countries and the EU are key U.S. partners in the
fight against terrorism, and Members of Congress may be
Figure 2.Terrorist Attacks and Fatalities by Type
interested in European counterterrorism efforts.
Figure 1. Terrorism-Related Attacks in the EU
(includes failed, foiled, and completed attacks)

Source: Europol’s Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT)
publications, 2015-2020. Data include statistics from the United
Kingdom (UK), which withdrew from the EU in January 2020.
Of primary concern to Europe is “violent Islamist”
terrorism. Such attacks, classified by Europol as “religious”
or “jihadist” in motivation, have been much more lethal

than other types of terrorism, accounting for nearly all
Source: Europol’s TE-SAT publications, 2015-2020. Data include the
recent fatalities and casualties (see Figure 2). Most jihadist
UK; single-issue and non-specified attacks are excluded.
attacks in Europe since 2014 have been linked to or
motivated by the Islamic State organization (IS, also known
European officials also remain alert to threats from anti-
as ISIS or ISIL). Despite the group’s territorial defeat in
Israel groups, such as Hezbollah. No attacks in Europe have
Syria and Iraq, it maintains a low-level insurgency in both
been attributed to Hezbollah since a 2012 bombing in
countries and continues to inspire followers in Europe.
Bulgaria, but the group reportedly uses Europe as a support
Concerns also persist about Al Qaeda and its affiliates ,
and fundraising base. Some European authorities express
which remain committed to carrying out or inspiring attacks
alarm about alleged state-sponsored Iranian terrorist acts,
on European and other Western targets. Arrests connected
including a thwarted 2018 bombing plot in France and two
to jihadist terrorism typically account for the largest number
murders in the Netherlands in 2015 and 2017.
of terrorism-related arrests; 436 out of 1,004 terrorism
The Islamic State and Europe
arrests reported to Europol in 2019 were jihadist related.
Following the Islamic State’s expansion to Syria in 2013,
Other types of terrorists also are active in Europe.
concerns grew about the group’s ties to Europe. From 2011
Nationalist/separatist attacks consistently represent the
to 2015, roughly 5,000 European citizens traveled to Syria
largest proportion of all terroris t incidents. In 2019, all
or Iraq to become “foreign fighters.” Several perpetrators of
nationalist/separatist attacks except one were related to
the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, France (which
dissident republican groups in Northern Ireland. Most left-
killed 130 people) and the March 2016 bombings in
wing/anarchist attacks occur in Italy, Greece, and Spain.
Brussels, Belgium (in which 32 died) were European
citizens who had trained and/or fought with the Islamic
Security services warn about right-wing extremism amid
State in Syria and/or Iraq. In these and other terrorist
what some view as heightened anti-immigrant and
incidents in 2015 and 2016, the Islamic State may have
xenophobic sentiments throughout Europe. Some attacks by
provided remote support and guidance.
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Terrorism in Europe
The majority of IS-linked attacks in Europe, however, have
November 29, UK: A UK citizen (of Pakistani descent),
been committed by individuals inspired by IS propaganda
with previous terrorism convictions, killed two people and
and radicalized in small like-minded groups, online, or in
wounded three in a knife attack near London Bridge. The
European prisons. In many instances, the Islamic State
Islamic State claimed responsibility.
claims that those responsible for attacks are its “soldiers”
2020
and some assailants use methods promoted by the group to
carry out attacks (including the use of large vehicles as
June 20, UK: A Libyan asylum-seeker killed three people
weapons), but there is often little to suggest a direct
(including a U.S. citizen) and injured three in a stabbing
connection. Despite the Islamic State’s diminished outreach
attack in Reading. Known to UK security services, the
capabilities amid its territorial losses since 2017, authorities
attacker may have had ties to an Al Qaeda-linked group in
Libya. Authorities also found IS material on his cell phone.
remain alarmed by the group’s continued ideological
influence in Europe. Some recent attacks in Europe have
September 25, France: A Pakistani national wounded two
elevated concerns that migrants and refugees (especially
people with a meat cleaver in Paris, outside the former
youths) could be more vulnerable to Islamist radicalization
office of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine, the target of
and recruitment due to feeling marginalized or dislocated.
a deadly 2015 Islamist terrorist attack. The suspect in the
Selected Terrorism Incidents
2020 incident appeared motivated by the magazine’s
decision to republish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
Several incidents over the last few years highlight ongoing
concerns about Islamist terrorism in Europe. The selected
October 4, Germany: A 20-year-old rejected asylum
events below are drawn from media reports.
seeker from Syria killed one person and injured another
with a knife in Dresden. The attacker had ties to the Islamic
2018
State and previous terrorism-related convictions.
March 23, France: A French-Moroccan man killed a
police officer and three other people in southern France in a
October 16, France: An 18-year old refugee of Chechen
series of attacks (which included taking hostages at a
origin beheaded a middle school teacher outside of Paris ,
market). The Islamic State subsequently took responsibility.
after the teacher showed students cartoons of the Prophet
The attacker was on a French extremist watch list.
Muhammad during a lesson on freedom of expression.
May 12, France: A French citizen (of Chechen origin), on
October 20, France: A young Tunisian national stabbed
a French terrorist watch list, killed one person and injured
and killed three people at a church in Nice. French officials
four in Paris. The Islamic State claimed responsibility.
consider the incident to be an Islamist terrorist attack.
May 29, Belgium: A Belgian convert to Islam, on leave
November 2, Austria: A dual Austrian-North Macedonian
from prison, killed three people in Liège (including two
citizen, convicted previously for attempting to join the
police officers) and attempted to take hostages at a school.
Islamic State in Syria, killed 4 people and injured 13 in a
The Islamic State claimed the assailant was its “soldier.”
gun attack in Vienna. The Islamic State subsequently
Authorities believe he was radicalized in prison.
claimed responsibility.
August 31, Netherlands: A 19-year old Afghan national,
European Responses and Challenges
living in Germany, injured two American tourists at an
For two decades, European countries and the EU have
Amsterdam train station with a knife. Authorities assert the
worked to bolster capabilities to combat terrorism and
suspect had a “terrorist motive” linked to a belief that Islam
violent Islamist extremism. In recent years, European
was “repeatedly insulted” in the Netherlands.
governments have prohibited travel to conflict zones,
increased surveillance, and attempted to improve counter-
December 11, France: A French citizen (of Algerian
radicalization efforts, especially online and in prisons. The
descent) attacked a Christmas market with guns and knives
EU has sought to enhance intelligence sharing among
in Strasbourg, near the European Parliament. Five people
national and EU authorities, strengthen external border
died and 11 were injured. The Islamic State claimed the
controls, and encourage social media companies to curb
assailant was its “soldier.” He was reportedly on France’s
terrorist incitement online. European leaders and the EU
terrorist watch list and may have been radicalized in prison.
also emphasize the importance of close cooperation with
2019
the United States. Nevertheless, challenges persist. At
March 18, Netherlands: A Turkish-born man, raised in the
times, national sovereignty concerns or civil liberty
Netherlands, killed four people and severely injured two in
protections have slowed certain EU anti-terrorism
a shooting attack on a tram in Utrecht. The attacker
initiatives, while different data protection regimes have
appeared to want to avenge the death of Muslims. The
complicated the conclusion of U.S.-EU information-sharing
Islamic State noted the attack in its weekly newsletter.
accords. Many European governments are struggling with
whether to repatriate captured European IS fighters and
May 24, France: An Algerian national detonated a bomb
family members from Syria and Iraq, an issue that
outside a bakery in Lyon, injuring 13 people. The suspect
generated tensions with the former Trump Administration.
reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
October 3, France: A French convert to Islam employed
Kristin Archick, Specialist in European Affairs
by a police intelligence unit in Paris stabbed six colleagues,
Rachel L. Martin, Research Assistant
killing four (including three police officers). Co-workers
IF10561
previously reported concerns about the assailant’s extremist
views. The Islamic State took note of the attack.
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Terrorism in Europe

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