Left-wing political violence remains a significant security concern in parts of Europe. In Germany, police-recorded violent offenses with a left-wing political motivation increased by 42.7 percent in 2025. During the October 2026 riots in France and Italy, extreme-left groups and activists participated in violent unrest or broader protests that turned violent. CEP research has also documented transnational cooperation among violence-oriented left-wing networks, as well as connections between parts of the extreme left and terrorist organizations, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Hamas.

Authors: Alexander Ritzmann and others

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