A changing threat landscape in Europe
Europe is currently facing a concerning development: an increasing number of terrorist attacks are being carried out by individuals acting alone, often using everyday objects such as vehicles.
According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, 93% of all deadly terrorist attacks in the Western world over the past five years have been carried out by lone actors. The number of attacks in Western countries also increased from 32 in 2023 to 52 in 2024, the first significant rise since 2017.
Several factors are contributing to this shift. The spread of extremist content online has made it easier for individuals to become radicalised without direct contact with organised groups. Social media and encrypted platforms allow ideologies to circulate quickly and widely. At the same time, many of these attacks are relatively simple to carry out. They often involve tools that are readily available, such as vehicles, knives or improvised devices and require limited planning or technical expertise.
Another challenge is the diversity of underlying motives. Lone-actor attacks are not tied to a single ideology but stem from a range of extremist beliefs, which makes them harder to predict and prevent.
This evolving threat landscape places new demands on how we think about public safety.
SaferWorld International works with solutions aimed at reducing the risks associated with these types of attacks. The focus is on protective measures that can be integrated into public environments without disrupting everyday life, for example, vehicle barriers designed to allow pedestrian flow while helping to stop unauthorized vehicle access and blast-resistant waste bins that combine functionality with protection.
As threats become more unpredictable and less complex, the need for adaptable and well-considered security measures increases. Alongside efforts to detect and prevent radicalisation, strengthening the physical protection of public spaces will remain an important part of creating safer environments — without compromising openness or accessibility.