Lone-actor terrorism has increasingly become a significant threat in recent years, with perpetrators using easily accessible and often devastating tactics. Among the most common methods are car-ramming and stabbing attacks, both of which have seen a notable rise in frequency and lethality. These attacks are typically carried out by individuals acting alone, often motivated by extremist ideologies. While car-ramming incidents tend to result in mass injuries, stabbing attacks are often more lethal, with a higher fatality rate. The growing number of such incidents, particularly in 2023 and 2024, highlights a troubling shift in the landscape of terrorism.
Terrorism itself is committed by three distinct categories of actors: states, groups, and individuals. While lone actors are becoming more prominent, state-sponsored and group-based terrorism continue to pose significant threats. Authoritarian states, for example, are often the primary perpetrators of state terrorism, engaging in violent repression of opposition groups or orchestrating attacks beyond their borders. In contrast, non-state actors, such as terrorist groups, remain the most frequently identified perpetrators of terrorism. These groups often have clear ideological agendas and typically target both state and non-state entities. The Global Terrorism Trends and Analysis Center (GTTAC) database has recorded over 1,000 perpetrator groups since 2018, including Salafi-jihadist factions, right-wing extremists, left-wing and anarchist radicals, and ethnonationalists.
In addition to state and group actors, the third category of terrorism involves individuals, often referred to as “lone actors” or “lone wolves.” These individuals are typically self-radicalized and frequently influenced by extremist ideologies they encounter online. Unlike groups or state actors, lone actors are not directed by any specific organization, which makes their actions more unpredictable and difficult to prevent.
Individually committed terrorism can generally be categorized into three primary types, each shaped by distinct ideological influences that drive lone actors to carry out attacks. These categories highlight the diversity of motivations and targets, as well as the challenges posed by self-radicalized assailants. The first and perhaps most notable category involves lone actors influenced by Salafi-jihadist ideologies. These individuals are often radicalized by extremist groups such as ISIS or Al-Qaeda, which have long advocated for violent jihad against perceived enemies of Islam, particularly the West. After failing against Western military forces in the Middle East, Al-Qaeda actively encouraged its sympathizers in Western countries to carry out attacks in their home nations. This appeal is amplified through online propaganda and social media platforms. As a result, lone-actor terrorism driven by Salafi-jihadism remains one of the most pressing threats. These individuals are typically from Western nations, such as European countries or the United States, and their attacks are often motivated by a desire to further the jihadist cause.
The second category consists of individuals radicalized by far-right extremist ideologies. These lone actors are often influenced by ideologies such as white supremacy, anti-government sentiments, the “incel” (involuntary celibate) movement, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and neo-Nazi or white nationalist beliefs. The individuals who adhere to these ideologies often use violence as a means to assert racial or cultural superiority or resist what they perceive as threats to their way of life. They typically target groups they view as responsible for societal or economic grievances, such as immigrants, ethnic minorities, or religious communities.
The third category involves lone actors influenced by nationalist ideologies. These individuals typically hold ethno-nationalistic views, prioritizing the interests of a specific national or ethnic group. This category encompasses both domestic and international terrorism, often driven by territorial disputes, national identity, or reactions to foreign occupation or influence. For instance, in the West Bank and Israel, individuals influenced by nationalist ideologies target military or civilian entities to advance their nationalist objectives. While such attacks may not always garner the same international attention as those inspired by jihadism or far-right extremism, they still pose a significant threat to public safety and security.
Individually-committed terrorism increasingly involves the use of easily accessible weapons, with car ramming and stabbing among the most common methods employed by lone actors. These attacks are particularly troubling due to their simplicity, the ease of obtaining weapons like vehicles and knives, and the ability to carry them out in crowded public spaces such as busy streets, marketplaces, and public events.
Car ramming attacks involve an assailant intentionally driving a vehicle—usually a car or SUV—into a crowd of people. The vehicle becomes the weapon, causing mass casualties and provoking widespread panic. One of the most recent and devastating instances of this occurred in Magdeburg, Germany, in late 2024, when an SUV driver struck a crowd, killing six people and injuring 299 others. Another notable car ramming incident took place on January 1, 2025, when a driver barreled a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 10 civilians and injuring 57.
The GTTAC database has documented a notable increase in both car ramming and stabbing incidents over recent years, as seen in Figure 1 below. For instance, the number of stabbing incidents rose from 112 in 2019 to 168 in 2020. Following a brief decline in 2021 and 2022—with 104 and 84 incidents recorded, respectively—there was another spike in attacks in 2023 and 2024. The October 7, 2023, terror attacks by Hamas marked a turning point, as individuals in the West Bank and Israel became more involved in stabbing incidents. This trend persisted into 2024, with 165 stabbing attacks recorded.
Similarly, car ramming incidents have shown a steady increase over the years (Figure 1). In 2019, only 14 car ramming attacks were recorded, rising to 19 in 2020. The numbers then fluctuated between 17 and 22 attacks from 2020 to 2023. However, 2024 saw a significant uptick in these incidents, reflecting a new trend in lone-actor terrorism. The accessibility of cars as a weapon of terror, combined with media amplification of such attacks, likely contributed to this rise. A closer examination of the perpetrators reveals that lone actors are primarily responsible for these attacks. Between 2019 and 2024, 77 out of 122 car ramming incidents and 239 out of 763 stabbing incidents were committed by lone actors.
Car ramming incidents have proven to be less lethal than stabbing attacks, as shown in Figure 2 below. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of people killed in car ramming attacks varied significantly, with the highest death toll occurring in 2020, which saw 93 fatalities. However, after 2020, the number of fatalities in car ramming attacks gradually declined, culminating in 18 deaths in 2023—a significant decrease from prior years. In 2024, 49 people were killed in stabbing-related incidents, maintaining a relatively higher rate than the previous year. The most striking trend, however, is the dramatic rise in the number of people wounded in car ramming attacks. In 2024, the number of individuals injured in such incidents surged to 406—a sharp increase from 44 in 2023—largely due to the Magdeburg car ramming attack, which alone resulted in 299 injuries. This substantial rise in the number of wounded individuals indicates that while fatalities may have decreased, the severity and scale of attacks are growing, especially regarding the overall impact on public safety.
However, the number of fatalities in stabbing-related incidents consistently exceeds the number of injuries, as stabbing attacks are usually more direct and specifically intended to kill the target (Figure 3). The increase in the lethality of these attacks became particularly evident in 2023 and 2024, with 450 people killed in 2023 and 706 killed in 2024. This dramatic rise highlights the growing severity and impact of stabbing attacks, especially in regions experiencing heightened political or ideological tensions. Unlike car ramming attacks, which tend to cause more injuries due to the nature of the weapon, stabbings are typically performed at closer range, leading to a greater likelihood of fatalities.
In conclusion, the rise of lone-actor terrorism involving car ramming and stabbing reflects a troubling shift in terrorist tactics, with both methods becoming increasingly lethal and difficult to prevent. While car ramming attacks have led to significant injuries, stabbing incidents have emerged as the more fatal threat, particularly in recent years. The increasing severity of these attacks, fueled by political and ideological tensions, highlights the urgent need for enhanced counterterrorism strategies and greater public awareness to mitigate the risks posed by self-radicalized individuals.
