Europe is facing a renewed and persistent threat from terrorism, according to a hard-hitting new report from Europol, which reveals a sharp increase in foiled plots, radicalisation cases, and arrests across the European Union.
The 2025 edition of Europol’s “European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT)”, published this week, paints a stark picture of the continent’s security landscape. It catalogues 58 terrorist incidents across the EU in 2024—including completed, failed, and foiled attacks—representing a disturbing upward trend after a period of relative calm.
While Islamist extremism remains the major concern, the report also flags the growing danger posed by right-wing and left-wing extremist networks, as well as a rise in so-called “lone actor” plots inspired by online radicalism.
In a sign of how seriously authorities are taking the issue, 431 individuals were arrested in the EU last year on suspicion of terrorism-related offences, many of them linked to the dissemination of extremist content, recruitment, or preparation of attacks. France, Germany, and Spain accounted for the lion’s share of these arrests, though incidents were recorded in nearly every member state.
The data reinforces warnings from national security agencies that Europe is now contending with a more fragmented, decentralised threat environment than during the peak years of coordinated Islamic State operations.
“The threat has evolved, not disappeared”
Catherine De Bolle, Europol’s Executive Director, cautioned that complacency would be dangerous.
“The nature of the threat has changed, but it has not diminished,” she said in Brussels. “Radicalised individuals and small autonomous cells continue to plot attacks, often with minimal planning and rudimentary weapons. Our security services must remain agile and vigilant.”
Indeed, while the scale of violence has not returned to the levels of 2015–2016, when jihadist attacks in Paris, Brussels and Berlin shocked the continent, the ideological drivers remain deeply entrenched.
Among the 58 attacks documented last year, 16 were attributed to jihadist motives, with many prevented at a late stage thanks to intelligence-sharing and surveillance. Weapons ranged from knives and makeshift explosives to cyberattack attempts on critical infrastructure.
Notably, Europol observed an uptick in plots targeting schools, religious institutions, and transport hubs, suggesting an effort to sow maximum fear and provoke community tensions.
Far-right threat on the rise
While jihadism remains the most lethal ideology, the report expresses growing concern about far-right extremist networks, particularly those coordinating through encrypted platforms and online gaming forums.
Europol recorded 11 foiled attacks linked to far-right ideology, including several plots involving 3D-printed firearms and plans to attack politicians, journalists, and migrant shelters. In many cases, the perpetrators were under 25, often acting alone but inspired by manifestos and propaganda circulating on fringe platforms.
“Far-right actors are increasingly sophisticated in their use of digital spaces to radicalise youth,” the report warns. “We are witnessing a convergence of conspiracy theories, antisemitism, and accelerationist rhetoric.”
The surge has alarmed security officials in countries such as Germany and Sweden, where neo-Nazi groups have regained traction in some online and political circles.
Radicalisation in prisons and online echo chambers
The report also highlights prisons as a key vector for radicalisation, with some convicted terrorists continuing to influence others while incarcerated. Meanwhile, online spaces remain fertile ground for recruitment.
One disturbing trend is the proliferation of youth-targeted extremist content. Europol notes that some groups are increasingly tailoring propaganda to teenagers and young adults, particularly those disillusioned with mainstream politics or facing mental health challenges.
Efforts to regulate extremist content online have yielded limited success, with encrypted messaging services continuing to frustrate investigators. Some platforms are also failing to respond quickly to takedown requests, despite EU legislation aimed at curbing digital radicalisation.
Political pressure mounts
The report is likely to intensify pressure on European policymakers to strengthen counterterrorism frameworks. EU interior ministers are already in talks to expand data-sharing protocols, improve cross-border cooperation, and consider new rules on tech platform liability.
Calls are also growing for the European Commission to prioritise a new action plan on counter-radicalisation, particularly in schools and youth centres. Some MEPs have proposed EU-wide de-radicalisation programmes, modelled on those in Denmark and the Netherlands.
The message from Europol is unequivocal: terrorism in Europe has not gone away—it has simply adapted. The danger now lies in its unpredictability, its decentralisation, and its persistence. In a continent that prizes openness and civil liberties, the challenge of securing public safety without compromising freedom has never been greater.
