The term “Lone Actor” has been applied to a variety of violent individuals who are thought to act out of ideological motivations using terrorist tactics. So far, much of the research is U.S.-based. There is an empirical vacuum of Lone Actor violence in Europe and a conceptual gap in how these acts may be understood as a variation of homicidal behavior. We examine and compare characteristics of European Lone Actors to European “common” homicide offenders. Lone Actor terrorists constitute a heterogeneous group that is similar to homicide offenders but differs in terms of substance use, weapon use, and target. These findings may be understood in the context of instrumental versus expressive aims.

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where she worked on violent extremist groups' use of online platforms, propaganda, and youth involvement in extremist organizations. She holds an MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and a BA and honorary MA in Oriental Studies from Cambridge University, UK. Her research interests include Islamic movements, terrorism, terror groups' use of the Internet, encrypted platforms, foreign fighters, and radicalization.

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