The Threat of the Far-Left and Anarchist Terrorism in the EU

The aim of the article is to determine the level of threat of far-left and anarchist terrorism in the EU with a special focus on two countries of the so-called “Mediterranean anarchist triangle” (Italy and Greece) and to identify trends in its further development. The article draws on primary and secondary sources to examine the threat of far-left and anarchist terrorism in different EU countries. We conclude that Euro-pol’s approach to studying the phenomena of far-left and anarchist terrorism is somewhat immature. The agency literally copies the rhetoric of the proclamations of the terrorist organizations under study, losing sight of their superficial perception of the ideology they use to justify their attacks. Nevertheless, Europol experts are much less politicized in their statements than the representatives of political circles. The far-left extremist “scene” in Italy is extremely small. In the early 2000s, it abandoned the use of terrorist methods. Anarchist extremists and terrorists pose a much greater threat in Italy. The dissolution of the “Revolutionary Organization 17 November” sharply reduced organized far-left and anarchist violence in Greece, but did not stop it completely. In December 2008, a new phase of “violent activism” against the state and private property began in this country. Numerous groups and organizations emerged that carried out major terrorist attacks. The vast majority of attacks organized by far-left and anarchist terrorists are directed against material assets, however, the choice of means of attack indicates the danger to human life and health.

terrorist threat, far-left terrorism, anarchist terrorism, European Union, Italy, Greece, Europol