The Means and Methods Used in Terrorist Acts Committed within the European Union between 2000 and 2023, and Expected Trends in Their Future Use

Abstract

The subject of this study is the weapons employed and the methods of their application in terrorist attacks committed within the territory of the European Union in the 21st century.
In the introductory section, the study defines the elements of the concept of terrorism relevant to the analytical framework applied in the research. It presents the weapons and perpetration methods used in terrorist attacks. Through case studies and by drawing on available statistical data, the study examines and analyzes in detail terrorist attacks carried out within the territory of the European Union during the period under review. The paper assesses the European Union’s joint and Member State–level response measures and their impact on the components of terrorism that constitute the focus of the research. Based on the analysis's trends and an international outlook, the study draws conclusions about the tools and methods that may be employed in potential future terrorist attacks within the territory of the European Union.