Are far-left assassinations of politicians all that common in Europe?

Cristian Vlas, Eastern Europe Assistant Research Manager, said:

“Attention on the far left’s lethality is exaggerated. With just three fatalities in eight years — potentially four if Ann Widdecombe’s killer is ultimately found to have been far-left motivated — and an overall decline in activity since 2020, the data does not support claims of a growing threat.

“On 1 July, unidentified assailants carried out a string of coordinated gas canister attacks in the Greek city of Thessaloniki, targeting officials of the New Democracy (ND) ruling party at their homes. While two of the gas canister explosions outside the residences of a former MP and a current ND politician caused minor damage and no injuries, the most serious attack occurred at the family home of a female ND candidate member of parliament, injuring her, her parents and 2 neighbors. The candidate’s mother passed away in the ICU due to burns. Suspecting a group of around 30 anarchists, police arrested 4 people, from which a woman suspected to be  involved in the deadly attack is reported to have previously served a prison sentence after being convicted of affiliation with Anarchist Action. 

“Following the attacks, the Greek government led by ND’s pledge to tackle political violence responds to a real threat, but could raise worries about an extension of a crackdown to anti-establishment groups and popular protests. Political violence is especially poignant in Greece which had to deal with far-left violence in the late 20th century and the emergence of organized and politically active far-right militantism, led by Golden Dawn, amid austerity measures crippling the country in the early 2010s. Externally, the July 2026 attacks were highlighted by US State Secretary Marco Rubio as proof of the “resurgence of far-left terrorism”.

“On 8 July, in the United Kingdom, a man is alleged to have killed with a hammer a former MP and Reform UK party spokesperson Ann Widdecombe at her home in Devon. While not unprecedented after the killing of Labour MP Jo Cox and Conservative MP Sir David Amess in the past 10 years, the brutal killing forced the government to prepare new security measures for public officials, including politicians who are not MPs. 

“The Reform leader and former MP Nigel Farage argues “on good authority” that the suspect arrested “was a hard-left activist”, although the British Counter Terrorism Policing were still working on finding out the motivation of the attack after re-arresting the suspect, who was not in a terrorism prevention warning list, on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. 

These isolated events, whilst high profile, present little reason to believe that far-left groups in Europe are organized and ready to conduct personal attacks and assassination attempts against establishment politicians. Attacks conducted by known, self-identified, or unknown far-left or anarchist groups mostly targeted property, buildings of the institutions and companies representing the political and economic establishment, rarely seriously affecting the bodily integrity of politicians, central government or local officials, and other key figures. 

“That said, killings in Greece and the UK show that the danger to public officials- candidates, former, and acting-, remains palpable and hard to pin to a certain conflicting side. Far-left vandalism and destruction of politicians’ property, government and party offices constitute the bulk of far-left violence directed at political bodies, yet physical harassment of politicians also remains a sensitive issue, especially in Greece, but also France and Germany. Identifying motives behind each individual attack might require more than an ideological lense, as Europe also grapples with the rise of an organized violent far-right, communal protests around migration, and a general discontent about rising living costs exacerbated by political polarization. Under severe socio-political pressure and in a media landscape deadset on government failings, investigation and policing bodies will be facing ever increasing demands to show efficiency, amid adherence to rule of law and community-based efforts of prevention, protection and deconfliction.”