Youth involved in nearly half of terrorism probes in Europe and North America, study finds

Despite the overall impact of terrorism in the West being lower now than a decade ago, the involvement of minors and young adults “has become one of the most pressing security concerns”, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global Terrorism Index 2026.

The radicalisation process is now quicker than ever. Historically, what used to take months or even years can now take place within weeks or even days.

This is driven by short-form online propaganda, algorithmic amplification, and the exploitation of developmental vulnerabilities, according to the research.

“While the primary target demographic for terrorist networks spans youths aged 15 to 25, active recruitment and ideological indoctrination have been documented in children as young as eight years old,” the study noted.

Read more: Euronews