A new report from Europol has revealed a significant increase in Islamist-motivated terror attacks across Europe, with the agency warning that jihadist terrorism remains the most serious threat to EU security.
According to the 2025 TE-SAT (Terrorism Situation and Trend) report, 58 terrorist attacks were recorded in the EU last year. Of these, 34 were successful, five failed, and 19 were foiled. The highest number of incidents occurred in Italy, France, and Germany, but Austria, Greece, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Lithuania, Belgium, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Spain also appeared on the list.
The Migration Research Institute, a Budapest-based think tank, emphasized that Islamist-inspired attacks are on the rise, noting a marked increase compared to 2023. Of particular concern is the growing trend of “lone wolf” assailants, who are harder for intelligence services to detect and stop.
In 2024 alone, authorities thwarted 18 Islamist attacks. The only coordinated attack identified was a knife assault in Solingen, Germany, which was later claimed by ISIS. Most other plots involved individual attackers.
The Europol report also warns of growing radicalization among minors. In 2024, 62 minors were arrested in connection with terrorism-related offenses — ranging from planning attacks to producing and distributing propaganda. Social media platforms remain the primary arena for online radicalization, with both ISIS and al-Qaeda actively recruiting and inciting violence.
The ongoing war in Gaza has also triggered a spike in antisemitic sentiments across Europe. ISIS propaganda slogans now openly call for attacks on Israelis, urging followers to “kill them wherever you find them.”
In total, 289 Islamist extremists were arrested across the EU last year, with the majority of arrests taking place in Spain, France, and Germany. Hungary reported only one case. Notably, over a third of those detained were under the age of 20.
The growing number of attacks, the younger profile of the perpetrators, and the aggressive spread of online jihadist propaganda paint an increasingly troubling picture,”
the Migration Research Institute said in its analysis.
Sayfo Omar, Head of Research at the Migration Research Institute, pointed out that Hungary remains largely insulated from these threats — for now — due to its lack of large immigrant communities and its difficult language.
6 arrests (4 in Spain, 1 in Germany & 1 in UK) on suspicion of belonging to #ISIS https://t.co/xzISkfGzpT @policia @interiorgob #Europol pic.twitter.com/LBrqFuhfFG
— Europol (@Europol) June 28, 2017
In a previous interview, Sayfo Omar noted that many migrants from the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia arrive in Europe with unrealistic expectations, only to be disappointed by the challenges of integration and economic hardship.
Many of these migrants come from collective societies, where support networks are strong. In Europe, however, they must face challenges alone,” he said. “This sudden demand for personal responsibility often leads to psychological crises, which may in some cases pose a threat not only to themselves but to society as well.”
He added that mass migration inherently makes integration more difficult. Many asylum seekers live in isolated communities and often lack the motivation or opportunity to integrate into wider society.
Integration success, Sayfo Omar stressed, largely depends on the migrants’ background. For example, Syrian middle-class refugees who arrived in Germany in 2013 have an employment rate of 98 percent — significantly higher than that of other groups who arrived later with less education and fewer resources.
Commenting on the EU’s proposed migration pact, Sayfo Omar argued that Hungary’s security could be at risk if the country were forced to accept asylum seekers without proper screening.
He pointed to Germany, where public dissatisfaction has surged amid worsening security and rising crime rates in migrant-heavy areas — developments that have fueled support for the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
“German leadership is beginning to show signs of changing direction, but the shift is too slow to reassure a population that is still living with the consequences of the 2015 migration policy,” Sayfo Omar said. “It is crucial that European countries clearly define who they are willing to admit, and under what conditions.”
EU migration trends 2025:
Irregular crossings down 21%
Yet 4.3M under “temporary protection” & only ~20% of rejected leave.
EU must strengthen returns & border control. #Migration pic.twitter.com/kks71r7p2y— Migration Research Institute (@mri_hungary) September 17, 2025
He cited Estonia as an example: although the country accepted relocated migrants, most quickly disappeared and likely returned to Western Europe. “Migrants tend to move where there are existing communities they can join and where integration is easier,” he said.
“Hungary has no such communities, and the language barrier is significant. These two factors offer a degree of protection — but not indefinitely. What we need is a firm political stance and the sovereign right to decide who can enter the country as an asylum seeker,” Sayfo Omar concluded.
Mounting tensions in Germany: could chaos erupt?
Edith Dócza and @gonczi_robert discuss:
– the @_FriedrichMerz government’s stricter asylum policies
– challenges of integrating Ukrainian refugees
– @AfD‘s rise & public discontent— Migration Research Institute (@mri_hungary) September 15, 2025
Via hirado.hu; Featured image: Facebook/Migrációkutató Intézet
The post Budapest Warns: EU Migration Plan Could Open the Door to Terror appeared first on Hungary Today.
