ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD

JUNE 20, 2026 13:25

Updated: JUNE 20, 2026 15:45

In 2025 terrorist deaths dropped 28 percent while worldwide incidents fell 22 percent according to the latest Global Terrorism Index report.

Overall numbers point to reduced danger yet the trend varies sharply as attacks rose inside Western nations last year affecting seven of the nineteen countries showing worsening conditions.

Thousands of kilometers from Europe ten thousand from the United States and thirteen thousand from Australia one assault on Israel triggered radicalization ripples felt across distant continents. October 7 2023 became a pivotal moment for worldwide security.

The European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2024 states that the Hamas operation killing over 1200 people revived global terrorism trends and sped up fundamentalist patterns.

During 2023 alone authorities recorded 120 terrorist events in seven EU countries including 98 completed strikes nine unsuccessful efforts and thirteen disrupted schemes.

Ex counterterrorism agent describes factors pulling youth toward extremism

Mubin Shaikh a onetime undercover operative for Canadian intelligence who later aided US efforts against ISIS told The Jerusalem Post he sees rising referrals to Parents for Peace where he serves as an exit peer specialist.

Shaikh noted that the October 7 attacks and following conflict have drawn increasing numbers of young people into a tangled situation without enough facts mental readiness or reasoning skills to analyze it properly.

What we observe at Parents for Peace is that antisemitism acts as the linking element among varied extremist factions Islamist Marxist and others. Hatred toward Jews serves as their shared foundation he noted.

While acknowledging online and media influence Shaikh said youths are attracted to extremist circles because these groups supply missing elements such as peer respect friendships affirmation and often guidance from an older male figure.

At high schools and educational settings peer circles drive mobilization. Holding views on a social matter differs from taking physical steps joining protests and escalating toward criminal acts he remarked.

Some radicalized individuals driven by beliefs and need for attention

Noor Dahri founder of the Islamic Theology of Counter-Terrorism think tank observed that many solo actors blend ideological motives with a craving for recognition.

Some hold firm beliefs while others respond more to personal frustrations identity questions or the spotlight offered by social platforms.

Beliefs may supply purpose or defense yet the search for notice and importance proves equally powerful Dahri said highlighting isolation identity struggles and personal issues as warning signs for radicalization risk.

Dahri has shared his own deradicalization path after leaving Lashkar-e-Taiba the group behind the 2008 Mumbai Chabad attack plus strikes in India and Kashmir.

The boundary between opinion and action often hinges on belonging needs Shaikh added.

That social pressure appears in claims of genocide support for missing events or questions about protest attendance.

Paired with praise and moral approval from public involvement youths especially those on social edges struggle to avoid full commitment.

Muslims often elevate converts placing this isolated youth suddenly told they were chosen by God receiving double reward for choosing faith. Such praise affects their mindset he explained.

Islam converts face elevated radicalization risks

Shaikh indicated converts may face higher radicalization chances while noting rising incidents tied to white supremacist and incel ideas in recent years.

Europol data showed 78 percent of 426 terrorism arrests in Europe during 2023 linked to jihadist activity.

Though reflecting that period Shaikh warned radicalization has grown fluid with people blending identities such as white youths adopting Islam or Muslim youths entering incel spaces partly due to online spaces.

Dahri concurred that mixing among seemingly opposed radical factions has long existed to some degree.

Western far left and socialist activism segments have created openings for Islamist movements to persist and grow in Western societies often called the red-green alliance.

Islamist groups and backing regimes have pursued ties with local Western supporters who act as visible advocates while protecting core networks from examination he said.

Far left activists serve as political shields allowing Islamist entities to function more freely inside Western states.

This approach has continued for decades with some activists effectively supporting Islamist objectives.

Timing plays crucial role in radicalization path

Another factor deciding whether someone stays politically engaged or turns radicalized is timing.

Shaikh described how a cognitive opening makes individuals more open to ideas they would normally reject.

While near death events or losing loved ones commonly trigger such openings for Shaikh it started at a house party.

After family criticism for attending the event Shaikh traveled to India and Pakistan aiming to become religious and regain community standing.

Having attended both secular and Quranic schools he faced ongoing identity tension from cross cultural demands. The journey allowed him to ease that strain and adopt one identity.

A random meeting with Taliban members in Quetta near the Afghan border further pushed him toward Salafism an ultra conservative Sunni reform movement.

The encounter occurred at age 19 in 1995 before Taliban rule in Afghanistan so Shaikh did not know their later repressive policies and early violence reports seemed like propaganda.

The meeting left him impressed offering religious identity masculinity and connection to a larger cause. It supplied the fresh identity he sought he said.

Back in Canada he grew close to Salafi fundamentalists yet interest faded after marriage children and added duties.

His convert wife highlighted Muslim women treatment during their India trip forcing him to face differences between his Western gender views and earlier Taliban ideals.

Antisemitism proved harder to shed though easier for him as an Indian Muslim free from Arab nationalism ties.

One learns to hold these views then rehearses them mentally or on the street.

The strongest reaction came seeing a synagogue and feeling dislike hostility. I thought I wish I could destroy that synagogue now he recalled stressing he never planned actual attacks yet practiced the mindset.

It stayed peripheral yet formed part of the broader story opposing the West and Jews seen as Western extensions fueling anti Israel and anti Jewish protests he added.

His Salafi period already declining ended abruptly before the Toronto 18 case.

That case involved fourteen adults and four youths arrested in June 2006 for a homegrown al Qaeda inspired plot.

The group planned major strikes including bombings at the Toronto Stock Exchange and Canadian Parliament plus beheadings of officials.

Just after returning from Syria in 2004 Shaikh saw reports on Mohammad Momin Khawaja role in the UK fertilizer bomb plot involving 1300 pounds of ammonium nitrate for London attacks.

Shaikh recruited by Canadian intelligence service

Recognizing Khawaja from his own extremist past Shaikh reached Canadian Security Intelligence Service which recruited him as an undercover operative launching his counterterrorism career.

Now instead of spotting terrorists Shaikh works to prevent youths from crossing into violence.

Using Randy Borum radicalization theory Shaikh outlined steps leading from violent talk to action.

It is not right it is not fair it is your fault you are evil marks the path to violence requiring dehumanization and attributing evil to justify normally unthinkable acts he explained.

In group actions get minimized while out group deeds get magnified to support violence he continued.

Shaikh knowledge has helped many youths step back from the brink even without dropping all disagreeable ideas. He applies it against Hamas support noting that as an Islamic movement its deeds cannot be defended even if Israel committed wrongs against Palestinians.

I cite the Prophet statement peace be upon him saying do not kill the elderly do not kill women do not kill children do not mutilate enemy bodies. Hamas violated these openly so Islamically it cannot be justified. I tell them this is why God will never grant the victory you want when breaking divine commands especially war laws he said.

Many counter with whataboutism yet Shaikh holds that ends justify means thinking contradicts Islam and defending Hamas rapes abductions and murders equals saying Bismillah over pork.