Story perspectives

European Gangs Used for Political Violence, Experts Warn

4/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Analyses show state and non-state actors in Europe recruiting local criminals for politically motivated violence.
Governments, including Iran, are accused of leveraging criminal gangs via social media for covert operations, complicating attribution.
In Sweden, gangs recruit young people for contract killings, blurring lines between organized crime and terrorism.
The rise of 'gigification' in violence enables decentralized, transaction-based models, demanding new counterterrorism strategies in digital monitoring and community interventions.

History

Historical Context

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990 marked a pivotal moment, leading to a surge in organized crime across Europe. Criminal organizations like the Italian Mafia and Russian mob expanded their operations, generating billions, with the global drug trade estimated at $320 billion annually. Today, state actors, including Iran, exploit these networks, complicating law enforcement and necessitating innovative counterterrorism strategies.

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Story summary

Analyses show state and non-state actors in Europe recruiting local criminals for politically motivated violence.
Governments, including Iran, are accused of leveraging criminal gangs via social media for covert operations, complicating attribution.
In Sweden, gangs recruit young people for contract killings, blurring lines between organized crime and terrorism.
The rise of 'gigification' in violence enables decentralized, transaction-based models, demanding new counterterrorism strategies in digital monitoring and community interventions.

1 / 2