Islamist tendencies are still the biggest threat when it comes to attacks, but Europol also warns against the left and right-wing extremist scene in a recent report.
According to Europol’s recently published report, a total of 28 terrorist attacks were registered in the EU last year, 12 of which were timely thwarted by the security authorities and 16 attacks were actually carried out by the attackers. A total of three innocent people were killed. Two of the victims died in early October from shots fired by a right-wing lone gunman outside a Bratislava gay bar.
Exactly one month later, an Islamist attacked two police officers with a knife near the Gare du Nord station in Brussels. One of the officers succumbed to his injuries. “Lone offenders remain a major threat to the security situation in Europe with regard to terrorism,” said Europol Director Catherine De Bolle.
Lone offenders pose the greatest risk
“Most of the attacks of the past year were committed by suspects acting alone. And you can clearly see that across the entire spectrum, from jihadism to right-wing and left-wing extremism,” adds De Bolle. According to the European security experts, the greatest danger still comes from radical Islamists – although since the territorial ‘victory’ over the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, the fear in the minds of the population has subsided for several years. However, this is a false sense of security.
According to the Europol report, 266 of the 380 suspects arrested in EU member states in 2022 for terrorist offenses or preparing such offenses were suspected jihadists.
War in Ukraine fuels extremist violence
But the ever-growing and more violent left-wing and far-right scenes are also posing increasing problems for security authorities across Europe. Meanwhile, Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine adds fuel to the fire. Organized lying campaigns by pro-Russian groups would polarize and fuel terrorist and extremist violence.
Especially in the right-wing extremist scene, significantly more terrorist violence has been observed by the authorities since the outbreak of the war. Also on the internet, which with its propaganda possibilities offers the perfect breeding ground for radicalisation.
Death tools from your own 3D printer
High-tech is also behind another relatively new phenomenon that has been increasingly worrying security authorities for months: homemade, functional and, of course, unregistered weapons from the 3D printer. The preference of right-wing perpetrators…
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
