A total of 58 terrorist attacks were recorded across 14 EU Member States in 2024—34 completed, five failed and 19 thwarted—according to Europe’s flagship counter‑terrorism report, Europol’s European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2025 (TE‑SAT), published this week.
Meanwhile, 449 individuals were arrested in 20 Member States on terrorism‑related charges.
Catherine De Bolle, Europol’s Executive Director, warned that the current geopolitical tension is “amplifying violent extremist narratives, driving radicalisation within the EU”, with minors and vulnerable youth increasingly targeted. In her foreword, she notes that psychological fragility, social isolation or “digital dependency” are key conduits for radicalisation.
European Commissioner Magnus Brunner echoed the sentiment. “Terrorism and violent extremism remain serious threats,” he declared, urging vigilance over youth radicalisation and terrorist exploitation of digital platforms. The EU’s Terrorist Content Online Regulation, ProtectEU strategies, and a forthcoming Counter‑Terrorism Agenda were highlighted as tools to fortify defences .
Youth Radicalisation: A Growing Concern
Alarmingly, nearly one in three suspects arrested in 2024 was either a minor or a young adult—the youngest being just 12 years old, arrested for planning a terrorist attack. Europol draws attention to extremist online communities that blend jihadist, right‑wing, satanist and occult ideologies in their messaging, targeting children aged between eight and seventeen.
Geopolitical Flashpoints Fuel Extremism
TE‑SAT identifies both the Gaza conflict and Russia’s war in Ukraine as significant accelerants of radicalisation. Extremist propagandists across the ideological spectrum have capitalised on these crises to incite hatred, particularly anti‑Semitism.
A noteworthy shift has occurred in Syria, where the collapse of Assad’s regime in December 2024 and the rise of a Hay’at Tahrir al‑Sham (HTS) government are sending shockwaves through EU security circles. Europol warns that extremists have openly expressed interest in travelling to the region, while thousands of detainees in camps controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) pose a looming threat should instability continue.
Tech in Terror: AI, Encryption and Extremist Networks
Europol is sounding the alarm over terrorists’ evolving tactics. Extremist groups are increasingly leveraging generative AI to produce sophisticated propaganda. Meanwhile, encrypted messaging platforms have become vital conduits for recruitment, coordination and extremist incitement.
Recent violent acts have been linked to cult‑like online networks promoting extreme cruelty and blackmail, specifically targeting minors. Europol confirms that children aged as young as eight are being radicalised to carry out violent acts, driven by ideologies merging jihadism, right‑wing extremism, occultism and satanism.
A Reuters‑reported analysis by Europol’s serious crime agency reveals that the use of AI by criminal networks—from propaganda to automated coordination—is shaping a new breed of threat that is more scalable and harder to detect.
Attack Trends and Arrest Data
TE‑SAT breaks down 2024’s terrorism incidents by ideological driver:
Jihadist terrorism: 24 attacks (up from 14 in 2023), causing five deaths and injuring 18. A total of 289 arrests were made in connection with jihadist offences.
Left‑wing and anarchist terrorism: 21 attacks—17 completed and 4 failed, concentrated in Italy and Greece—with 28 arrests reported.
Right‑wing terrorism: Only one completed attack (notably in Italy) and 47 arrests.
Ethno‑nationalist/separatist terrorism: Four completed attacks and 27 arrests, largely tied to PKK-associated incidents in France and Italy.
Other/unspecified: Six incidents and 58 arrests.
In total, 427 convictions and 59 acquittals concluded proceedings in 16 Member States, underscoring vigorous judicial engagement.
Looking Ahead
With extremist threats evolving ever more rapidly—patched with cutting‑edge digital tools, inspired by shifting global flashpoints and increasingly involving the very young—the EU faces a multifaceted, modern challenge. TE‑SAT serves as a sober reminder that terrorism within the Union is “neither static nor distant”.
Commissioner Brunner has pledged forthcoming legislation and enhanced external cooperation, including a reinforced Counter‑Terrorism Agenda and tightened ties with neighbouring regions.
The key will be in effectively policing the digital echo chambers where hatred is born—and ensuring vulnerable youth aren’t left on the front lines of ideological warfare.
Main Image: – Own work, via Wikipedia.
