Europe is once again dealing with the dual threat of terrorism and widespread violence after several weeks of rising social tension around the continent. Knife attacks, terrorism and far-right riots have turned the continent into a tinderbox.
The thwarting of several attacks during the Olympic Games in France, on top of prior violent incidents, suggests the threat of terrorism is back. Israel's war on Gaza and Russia's war in Ukraine has further destabilised the international geopolitical landscape, raising concerns about the potential spillover of these crises into Europe.
Adding to these challenges, private companies and governmental bodies have increasingly become targets of cyber warfare and economic competition, complicating the security environment.
Europe now faces multifaceted challenges that threaten both national security and the continent's collective safety. The rise of far-right nationalist movements, driven by exclusionary ideologies, threatens to shift political power in ways reminiscent of European politics before World War II.
This underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to the problem beyond security measures alone. Inclusion is crucial to preserving the integrity of pluralistic societies and preventing the erosion of the democratic values that have long been Europe's cornerstone.
The rise of the far right
Recent elections have produced a European Parliament that leans further to the right. Far-right movements gained particular traction in Western Europe – especially in the six founding countries of the European Union – France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Most of these countries, along with Austria and the United Kingdom, experienced violent incidents this summer perpetrated by both Islamist and far-right extremists. A closer look at them reveals just how they are interconnected.
In France, warnings of potential terrorist threats extended beyond the Olympic Games, including knife attacks, anti-Semitic incidents, and Islamophobic violence, some of which were linked to the knock-on effects of the Gaza war. Luckily, extensive security measures and monitoring of high-risk individuals meant no attacks took place during the games themselves. European and wider international cooperation was instrumental in the prevention. In mid-August, France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced that three terrorist plots had been thwarted during the games.
But, on 24 August, a fire targeted a synagogue in southern France. The suspected perpetrator was identified as an "Algerian national with legal status." While anti-Semitism and the Gaza war were considered potential motives, these so-called "lone wolf" attacks remain complex and difficult to fully understand.
In Germany, there were also multiple terrorist knife attacks over the summer. The first took place in June in Mannheim's central square, where a police officer was killed and people were injured.
The second attack occurred on 23 August in Solingen, where three people were killed. The attacker was a radicalised Syrian refugee who claimed to have been inspired by the Islamic State (IS). This incident reignited debates about tightening laws on weapons and deporting criminals, reinforcing the belief that Islamist terrorism remains one of the greatest security challenges in Germany.
In this tense climate, it was no surprise that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a significant victory in regional elections in Thuringia in early September. It was the far right's first win in a state parliamentary election since World War II. The AfD also placed a close second in the neighbouring state of Saxony, reflecting the growing political influence of far-right movements in the country.
Dangerous mix
All of this highlights the dangerous mix of migration, asylum, Islamic extremism, terrorism, and the rise of far-right movements, creating a powder keg in a country still haunted by the dark legacy of Nazism.
Across the English Channel, Britain experienced a wave of violence that swept through several cities in early August following the murder of three girls in late July. The unrest fuelled concerns over the safety of migrants and Muslims, as far-right groups falsely claimed that the attacker was a Muslim immigrant. The police linked the violence to organisations associated with the far-right, anti-Islam English Defence League (EDL), which, though disbanded, left a lasting impact.
Shock intensified when images surfaced showing an attempt to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers, along with attacks on Islamic centres and the looting of shops.
Threats against mosques in Southport and Sunderland in northern England prompted heightened security at hundreds of Islamic institutions, with growing concern for the safety of worshippers. Alarmingly, the violence spread to more cities, including Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Blackpool, Hull, and Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Condemnation by religious leaders, a proactive response from Muslim elites, and the Labour government's efforts helped to mitigate fears and initiate measures to address the situation. But this response alone does not guarantee that English society, with its diverse national and religious fabric, can withstand the dual pressures of rising racism and the rhetoric of religious identity and hatred.
These challenges are compounded by external factors, not least the Palestinian issue and the ripple effects of Middle Eastern conflicts on communal relations in Britain.
