Opinion

IS sees popularity boost among teenagers in Europe

The terror group has exploited current conflicts in the Middle East and perceived injustices against Muslims to resonate with these youths

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Haid Haid
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IS sees popularity boost among teenagers in Europe

Haid Haid
last update on

The recent knife attack by a Syrian asylum seeker in Germany has heightened concerns about lone-wolf violent attacks in the West. The incident gained even more attention when the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility and released a video of the attacker pledging allegiance to the group.

This attack is not an isolated case but part of a troubling global trend: IS's increasing appeal among younger generations, especially minors. The group has refined its online tactics to target teenagers, using social media to exploit their grievances and frustrations.

By presenting jihad as a form of empowerment, IS is inciting violence far beyond its traditional strongholds, particularly in Europe. The most alarming aspect is that many of these attacks are inspired by IS rather than directly orchestrated by it, posing a new and complex challenge for counter-extremism efforts.

Troubling trend

The knife attack in Solingen, Germany, on 23 August, which left three dead and eight wounded at a festival, underscores this troubling trend. IS claimed responsibility for the attack on 24 August through its "news agency" Amaq, and the next day, a brief video surfaced, purportedly showing the perpetrator pledging allegiance to the group and explaining his motives before the assault. In the video, the speaker, a Syrian from the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor, addresses a message to his parents, asking for their forgiveness while stating that he feels "compelled" to act "to avenge our people in Palestine as well as Muslims in other countries."

Although IS claimed responsibility, the extent of the group's actual involvement in the Solingen stabbings remains unclear. Informed sources suggest that IS is unlikely to have played a direct role in orchestrating the attack.

This aligns with the pattern seen in other inspired attacks where videos are released post-incident, often sent to the group by the attackers themselves. These videos are then used by IS to assert a connection to the attack, even if that link is weak, and to portray it as a response to their call for followers worldwide to avenge Palestinians by carrying out attacks "wherever you are based,".

IS is inspiring violence far beyond its traditional strongholds, particularly in Europe

Alarming trend

IS appears to have recently embraced its role in inspiring attacks, attempting to capitalise on this alarming trend. In the 5 July edition of its weekly newspaper al-Naba, the group claimed credit for motivating recent attacks in the West and Russia. The editorial, titled They Are Us and We Are Them, referenced the attackers and featured an image showing the men responsible for several incidents: such as the coordinated attacks on 23 June in Dagestan targeting two churches and two synagogues, the 29 June crossbow attack that injured a security guard outside the Israeli embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, and the 2 March stabbing of a Jewish man in Zurich.

Notably, IS had not previously claimed a connection to these attacks, although some of the attackers had reportedly pledged allegiance to the group. The delayed release of these images appeared to convey that IS now considers all these individuals to be its followers, regardless of whether the group had officially claimed their attacks in the past.

IS also sought to credit itself for inspiring these actions. The group also expressed satisfaction with having inspired these actions, regardless of its organisational relationship with the attackers. The group emphasised that the attackers—and those in the future—did not need a direct "organisational link" to IS; it was sufficient that they had pledged allegiance from afar and "responded" to its calls for attacks.

Despite its attempts to refine its media strategy, IS's claims do not represent the majority of attacks inspired by the group, including those carried out by individuals who have formally pledged allegiance. This discrepancy occurs either because the individuals responsible are apprehended before they can execute their plans or because IS chooses not to claim responsibility.

For example, in December, a French man armed with a knife and hammer killed a German national and injured two others near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Although the attacker had pledged allegiance to IS and the assault seemed to respond to its call to "avenge Palestinians," the group did not claim the attack.

Similarly, in April, a teenager from Idaho in the US was arrested for plotting to attack churchgoers in IS's name. The plan was thwarted before execution, and while the teenager had sworn loyalty to IS, the group did not acknowledge him. In another case, a UK teenager was sentenced to seven years in April for planning an attack on the Isle of Wight music festival after being radicalised online by IS propaganda. However, this individual appeared to have planned the attack without formally pledging allegiance to the group. Regardless, IS made no mention of the incident.

Nearly two-thirds of IS-linked arrests in Europe were teenagers aged between 13 and 19.

Teen appeal

What is particularly alarming about this trend is IS's growing appeal among teenagers, including those underage. A study by King's College London revealed that nearly two-thirds of IS-linked arrests in Europe, totalling 58 suspects involved in 27 IS-linked attacks or disrupted plots since October, were teenagers aged between 13 and 19. This rise in the recruitment of teenagers for terrorist activities helps explain the more than quadrupling of attacks recorded in Europol data.

Of the 27 plots or attacks analysed in the report, two notably involved teenagers targeting this summer's Olympic Games in France. Other cases include teenagers in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Belgium who were arrested for plotting attacks ranging from stabbings to bombings, all under the age of 18. Likewise, UK security sources have noted that the "directed terror threat" has become a greater concern over the past 18 months, with IS being the most scrutinised group. This increase is linked to the continued access young people have to extremist materials online.

IS's decision to target teenagers is not surprising, given the group's disregard for the morality of such actions. Teenagers are highly impressionable and emotional and often act on impulse. Importantly, they are also less visible to security forces. Peter Neumann, a professor of Security Studies at King's College London and the author of the cited report, notes that while recruiting this age group may seem chaotic and may not always result in successful attacks, those who are recruited often go unnoticed: "Who would think of a 13-year-old as a terrorist?"

To capitalise on its growing appeal among teenagers, IS has adapted its strategy to resonate more effectively with younger audiences. The group has refined its online tactics, targeting this demographic through popular gaming and social media platforms like TikTok. IS has also tailored its messaging to appeal specifically to teenagers, often tapping into the grievances, identity struggles, and frustrations that are common during adolescence, portraying jihad as a path to empowerment and belonging. Additionally, IS has exploited current global issues, such as conflicts in the Middle East and perceived injustices against Muslims, to resonate with these youths.

While IS still attempts to groom teenagers and foster ties with them when possible, the group has increasingly focused on spreading easily accessible extremist content on social media to fuel self-radicalisation. Beyond disseminating its ideology, IS publishes manuals on these platforms that detail how to carry out attacks and even build homemade bombs. The goal is to incite those who are influenced to commit violent acts in their communities and equip them with the necessary know-how, regardless of whether they have direct contact with IS recruiters. In essence, IS is less concerned with the process and more focused on the outcome—namely, the execution of attacks that create chaos, especially when the group can claim direct responsibility for them.

IS's ability to target a younger, more emotional, and unpredictable generation — one that diverges from both the traditional profile of the group's recruits and the means through which they are radicalised—presents a significant challenge to counter-radicalisation efforts. Without a corresponding evolution in counter-radicalisation strategies, efforts to address this emerging threat may fall short. 

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