Recent History of Terrorist Attacks in Europe
Although the authorities have not confirmed the perpetrator of the recent mass accident at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, it bears a resemblance to previous attacks in the region. The incident has resulted in one death and dozens of injuries.
2016 Berlin Attack
A similar incident occurred in Berlin in 2016 when Anis Amri carried out a massive car accident at a Christmas market, killing 11 people and injuring 56 others. Amri managed to escape but was later intercepted in Milan. A video released after his death showed him swearing allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist organization.
2018 Strasbourg Attack
Two years later, a similar attack occurred in Strasbourg, France. Chérif Chekatt, a 29-year-old man born in the city to an Algerian family, opened fire at the city’s traditional Christmas market, killing 5 people and injuring 11 others. Chekatt fled the scene but was shot dead by French police two days later.
Rise of the Islamic State and Increased Security Measures
Both incidents coincided with the rise of the Islamic State in Syria and the spread of terror to Europe. In response to these attacks, security measures were increased, including the placement of bollards in public spaces and a focus on refugees arriving from Syria. European countries also raised their alert levels.
Terrorist Attacks in Western Europe
Western Europe has been a constant target of terrorist attacks over the last two decades. The 11M attacks in Madrid, Spain, remain the deadliest terrorist attack in Europe, with the highest number of fatalities in a single incident.
Other Notable Attacks
Other notable attacks include a suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, UK, which killed 23 people and injured 119 others. There have also been indiscriminate incidents, such as the 2017 London attack where a group of terrorists drove a vehicle along the sidewalk of a bridge, running over pedestrians, and the 2017 Barcelona attack where a car ran over citizens on La Rambla.
Use of Vehicles in Terrorist Attacks
These incidents have in common the use of vehicles as a means of attack. This methodology is widely used by terrorists, who crash cars and trucks into buildings and crowds of people. It is a cheap and simple way to attack both institutions and pedestrians.