EU Terrorism in 2025: 45 Attacks and Over 480 Arrests Recorded

Europol data reveals that EU member states faced 45 terrorist attacks and made over 480 arrests in 2025, with jihadist terrorism remaining the most lethal threat.

45 Terrorist Attacks Across 10 EU Countries

According to Europol’s annual terrorism situation and trend report, 10 EU member states reported a total of 45 terrorist attacks in 2025. Out of these, 22 attacks succeeded, 20 were foiled, and 3 failed, resulting in 6 deaths.

This represents a decrease compared to 2024, which saw 58 attacks across 15 member states resulting in 5 fatalities. However, arrests continued to rise, with 486 suspects detained across 21 member states in 2025, up from 449 in 2024 and 426 in 2023.

Jihadist Terrorism Remains the Deadliest Threat

Jihadist terrorism accounted for the largest share of attacks in 2025 with 24 incidents, 9 of which succeeded. Successful attacks occurred in Germany, France, Austria, Ireland, and Spain, while 15 attacks were thwarted in France, Austria, and Belgium.

Europol noted that jihadist attacks were the most dangerous form of terrorism in 2025, resulting in five deaths and 81 injuries. Meanwhile, left-wing and anarchist terrorism accounted for 12 attacks, while right-wing terrorism accounted for five.

Methods and Targets of Attacks

The most common modus operandi among the 45 attacks was stabbing, followed by bombings, arsons, shootings, property damage, and vehicle ramming. Successful attacks carried out by lone actors primarily relied on simple and easily accessible weapons.

The civilian population was the most frequent target, particularly in jihadist and right-wing attacks. Law enforcement headquarters and officers were targeted by both jihadists and left-wing extremists, while private businesses were targeted exclusively by left-wing attackers citing ties to Israel.

486 Arrests with Most Linked to Jihadism

Across 16 member states, 347 individuals were arrested for jihadist-related terrorism offences, returning to 2023 levels after a dip in 2024. The highest number of arrests took place in Spain and France, mostly involving suspicions of terrorist propaganda, membership, and attack preparation.

Additional arrests included 43 related to right-wing terrorism across nine member states, 13 linked to left-wing and anarchist terrorism, 34 tied to ethno-nationalist and separatist terrorism, and 49 for unspecified forms of terrorism.