Introduction
Over the last 15 years, the nature of terrorism in the West has undergone a noticeable shift. Since the mid-2010s, most terrorist attacks in the West have been carried out by individuals who are not affiliated with a particular group, do not have a clear ideology, or who pledged allegiance to a group but did not have direct ties to any existing members.
While large-scale, highly coordinated plots carried out by recognised organisations have not vanished, fatal incidents increasingly originate from individuals acting on their own initiative, often referred to as “lone wolves”. These attackers may subscribe to a particular ideology or interact with extremist communities online, yet they do not necessarily receive formal in-person training or direct organisational resources.
Historically, lone terrorist scenarios are not new and date back to ancient times. The period between 1878 and 1934 was the era of anarchist terrorism where most actors were lone wolves because of the rejection of organised leadership. One of the earliest prominent lone wolf attacks was the assassination of US President McKinley in 1901. What distinguishes the current wave is the way in which rapid radicalisation can occur online, particularly through social media, which allows for easy access to terrorist propaganda, and the ability to self-organise and commit violent acts with minimal face-to-face contact.
Additionally, growing involvement of disaffected young people amplifies the risks of lone wolf terrorism. In some countries in the West, such as the UK, one out of every five terror suspects is under 18. Cultural alienation, easy exposure to violent propaganda and the increase in youth mental health issues, all contribute to increasing the risk of young people becoming involved in violent extremism.
In addition, minors often trigger fewer warnings within security frameworks, enjoy certain privacy protections, and, if apprehended, may be subject to less severe legal penalties. Together, these factors have produced a changing threat landscape, which requires rethinking conventional understandings of extremist violence and how best to prevent it.
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