Right-wing terrorism

In Europe as in the United States, far-right terrorism is experiencing a worrying resurgence. Mass shootings, bomb attacks, murders targeting minorities and representatives of democratic institutions… Long ignored by the authorities and the public, these violent acts nevertheless pose a real threat to our societies. All the more so in the age of the dark web and social media, where far-right terrorism has spread its web across five continents. Fuelled by the hate speech peddled by extremist ideologues, radicalised individuals with increasingly diverse – and increasingly young – profiles are attempting to organise themselves to take action. With one ultimate goal: the overthrow of democracy. From France to Germany, from Sweden to the United States, an investigation into an underestimated terrorist threat.

Part I:
Europe is being hit by far-right terrorism. France and Germany have experienced several attacks carried out by radicalised individuals, dreaming of racial war and the fight against a so-called ‘great replacement’. While far-right violence is nothing new, it is all the more worrying today as it involves an increasingly diverse range of individuals, from seasoned military personnel to ordinary pensioners. And at the same time, ideologues and extremist parties are spreading their violent rhetoric throughout society, targeting minorities and political opponents.

Part II:
Across Europe and the United States, supremacist ideas and ultra-violent content circulate via the internet and social media, where far-right activists communicate in complete secrecy. A transnational ideology is gradually taking shape, based on the same references and the same cult of far-right mass murderers, regarded by some as veritable ‘saints’. The authorities are attempting to respond, balancing the monitoring of extremist profiles with efforts to prevent radicalisation, whilst far-right terrorists pursue the same goal: to overthrow democracy.