Number of terrorist incidents documented within the EU in the year 2024
In a concerning development, Europol's latest report reveals a surge in the number of minors and young people involved in terrorist and violent extremist activities across the EU. A total of 449 people were arrested for terrorism-related offences in 2024, an increase from previous years.
The report highlights that nearly one-third of those arrested were aged between 12 and 20 years old. The youngest arrestee, charged with planning or preparing an attack, was just 12 years old.
The majority of these young perpetrators were male, with only 12 out of 133 being female. The vast majority of young suspects were linked to jihadist terrorism. Jihadist terrorism caused the highest number of casualties, with five deaths and 18 injuries.
The combination of psychological vulnerabilities, social isolation, and digital dependency continues to be instrumental in the radicalisation of young people. The report states that these young perpetrators most often underwent a process of self-radicalisation online and were acting dissociated to any centralised organisation, often alone or within small cells of peers.
The geographical distribution of attacks shows that the majority of arrests were carried out in Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. These countries each reported multiple attacks, with Italy and France recording the most, at 20 and 14 incidents respectively. Germany, Austria, and Greece each had six, three, and three reported attacks respectively.
Interestingly, most attacks targeted civilians, with the industrial sector being the second-most targeted. The majority of attacks took place in urban locations (45), while 13 were perpetrated in rural areas.
The report also notes a decrease in the number of terrorist attacks in the EU, with 58 reported attacks in 2024, a decrease from 120 attacks in 2023. However, the increase in the number of minors and young people involved in such activities is a cause for concern.
Europol also reported a surge in the amount of terrorist and violent extremist propaganda on digital platforms. This underscores the importance of monitoring and regulating online content to prevent radicalisation and the planning of attacks.
In conclusion, the Europol report provides a sobering snapshot of the current state of terrorism in Europe. The increasing involvement of minors and young people in such activities is a significant concern and requires urgent attention and action.
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