Background and Preparatory Behaviours of Right-Wing Extremist Lone Actors: A Comparative Study
Journal abstract
The threat posed by lone actors ranks high on the list of terrorism-related security concerns. In recent years especially, discussions about these perpetrators have focused primarily on those associated with, or inspired by, Islamic State and other jihadist entities. However, a significant portion of lone actors actually hail from right-wing extremist milieus. This article serves to draw attention to this subcategory of lone-actor terrorists, with a particular focus on their backgrounds and pre-attack behaviours. To that end, two datasets are presented that allow a comparison to be made between right-wing extremist lone actors and other ideologically-motivated lone actors. While several differences are noted, perhaps the most surprising finding is the degree of similarity between right-wing extremist lone actors and those adhering to different ideological currents. The results contribute to a knowledge-base that can inform discussion about whether risk assessment tools and protocols should differentiate between ideological categories of lone actor terrorists.
- Journal : Perspectives on Terrorism
- Author : Noémie Bouhana, Emily Corner, Paul Gill, Bart Schuurman
- Date : 2018
- Volume : 12(6)
- Link : http://bit.ly/2J8wGFX