Types of terrorism

The EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) categorises terrorist organizations by their source of motivation. However, many groups have a mixture of motivating ideologies although usually one ideology or motivation dominates.

The choice of categories used in the TE-SAT reflects the current situation in the EU, as

reported by the member states. The categories are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Islamist terrorism is perpetrated by individuals, groups, networks or organisations which evoke Islam to justify their actions.

Ethno-nationalist and separatist terrorist groups, such as Euskadi ta Askatasuna (ETA) or Basque Fatherland and Liberty, seek international recognition and political self-determination.

They are motivated by nationalism, ethnicity and/or religion.

Left-wing terrorist groups, such as the Devrimci Halk Kurtulus¸ Partisi / Cephesi (DHKP-C) or Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front, seek to change the entire political, social and economic system of a state according to an extremist leftist model.

Their ideology is often Marxist-Leninist. The agenda of anarchist terrorist groups is usually revolutionary, anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian. Not all member states distinguish between activities of left-wing and anarchist terrorist groups in their contributions. For this reason, both categories are discussed in the same chapter of this report.

Right-wing terrorist groups seek to change the entire political, social and economic system on an extremist right-wing model. The ideological roots of European right-wing extremism and terrorism can usually be traced back to National Socialism.

Single issue terrorism is violence committed with the desire to change a specific policy or practice within a target society. The term is generally used to describe animal rights and environmentalist terrorist groups.