
Stephan Balliet, who is accused of shooting two people dead after an attempt to storm a synagogue in Halle an der Saale, eastern Germany, wears a face mask as he waits for the start of the 18th day of his trial on Nov. 3, 2020, at the district court in Magdeburg, eastern Germany.
The violent right-wing threat in Europe is growing as terrorists exploit ongoing political, economic, and social tensions to expand their activities, including plotting attacks. The threat from terrorists who believe they must trigger a civil war to save society will challenge security services and further polarize societies. Right-wing terrorists (RWTs) inhabit a small space in a much larger right-wing ecosystem, but distinguish themselves by actively conducting or advocating premeditated, politically motivated attacks against an array of perceived enemies. RWTs comprise a variety of people, including those who contest government authority, single-issue terrorists who oppose specific policies like abortion, and involuntary celibates (aka "incels") angry at women. Recent attacks, plot disruptions, and security assessments, however, indicate that the largest and most immediate threat comes from RWTs who act on behalf of what they perceive as a superior but besieged "white identity.