Over the past few years, Europe has seen a troubling wave of jihadist terror attacks, often carried out by failed asylum seekers. These attacks, although less coordinated than the notorious 2015 Paris attacks, still strike fear across the continent and have fueled the rise of right-wing, anti-establishment parties that promise to take control of the situation.
In early 2025 alone, there have been multiple horrific incidents. On February 15, a 23-year-old Syrian man in Villach, Austria, killed a 14-year-old and injured five others in a stabbing spree, pledging allegiance to ISIS. Just days earlier, in Munich, an Afghan asylum seeker deliberately ran his car into a crowd, killing two and injuring dozens more. These are just a few examples from a long list of attacks, including stabbings, car ramming incidents, and planned bombings.
Authorities also foiled several major plots. In December 2024, an Iraqi asylum seeker in Germany was arrested for planning an attack on a Christmas market, while four men in Sweden were charged with plotting an attack on Jewish targets.
Terrorism experts and lawmakers warn that the ongoing migration crisis and the failure to adequately manage border security are contributing factors. European citizens continue to grapple with the reality that many of these attacks are carried out by individuals who should never have been allowed to stay in Europe. As the violence persists, the continent is left to confront the growing threat and determine how best to secure its future.
