Success on the Right, More Violence on the Left

For all the talk of violence prompted by ‘right-wing extremism,’ it turns out that in the U.S., at least, extremist attacks carried out actually by those on the left are surging—to the extent that even establishment publications are having to take note.

A new report by the American Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) points to a rise in left-wing violence over the past decade, especially since Donald Trump’s dramatic entrance into front-line politics. It adds that this increase has occurred at the same time as other forms of terrorist attacks have declined, and that the number of left-wing incidents is greater than the number of right-wing ones.

Data analysed in the study run up to July 4th this year, thus excluding the shooting of Charlie Kirk. It is understood that his death could prompt copycat attacks across Europe, with our Paris correspondent Hélène de Lauzun writing last week that far-left intimidation is growing in France in particular, about which the authorities seem indifferent.

And just as the rise of Trump appears to have prompted an increase in left-wing violence in the U.S., the growing popularity of the AfD in Germany has been met with a range of politically-inspired attacks—against party MPs and campaigners alike.

Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, said earlier this month that the bureau “has and will continue to aggressively pursue individuals and groups who further their political and social ideologies through coordinated violent extremism.”

Despite the left overtaking the right in attacks, CSIS says that left-wing violence is still “much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers.” Although it adds that these attacks are “on track” to reach “historically high levels in the last 30 years.”