The beginning of 2026 was an alarming sign of a new phase of radicalism for Europe. The attack on Berlin’s energy infrastructure, which led to a large-scale blackout, clearly demonstrated that left-wing radical extremism, long considered a minor threat, had moved from local actions to strikes capable of disrupting the functioning of entire cities. This incident was not an isolated episode, but part of a trend that has seen a noticeable increase in radical left-wing movements in Europe.
This phenomenon is directly linked to growing social polarization. The economic consequences of the pandemic, inflation, the energy crisis, and the rising cost of living have heightened feelings of injustice, especially among young people and socially vulnerable groups. Traditional left-wing parties integrated into the parliamentary system are increasingly perceived by these groups as part of the “establishment” incapable of radical change.
Against this backdrop, radical movements offer simple and emotionally charged answers. Capitalism, the state, corporations, and the energy sector merge into a single image of the enemy in their rhetoric. The climate and anti-militarist agenda plays a special role, where violence against infrastructure is interpreted as an “ethical choice” and “forced resistance.”
According to the Europol TE-SAT 2024 report, 120 terrorist attacks were recorded in the EU in 2023, of which 32 were attributed to left-wing and anarchist groups, significantly more than right-wing extremists (only one completed attack). In 2024, the number of completed attacks by left-wing radicals rose to 58, with law enforcement agencies noting a shift in focus to minors and young people involved in extremist activities.
Left-wing radicals are increasingly using online platforms for radicalization, following a model previously characteristic of jihadist networks, but with an ideological emphasis on “anti-fascism” and “anti-capitalism.” This allows them to form decentralized networks that are difficult to track using traditional methods.
Examples from recent years underscore the systemic nature of the radical left-wing problem. In Germany, the Engel-Guntermann group carried out a series of violent attacks on alleged right-wing extremists in 2022–2023, including attacks outside the country, in Budapest. These actions showed that radical left-wing violence is increasingly crossing national borders.
In Greece, anarchist and radical left-wing groups are responsible for more than 80% of violent incidents involving radical groups, including bombings and attacks using homemade explosive devices. In Italy, 24 completed attacks by radical leftists were recorded in 2020 alone, underscoring the persistence of this phenomenon in certain EU countries.
ACLED data indicate a relatively stable overall level of violence in the EU since 2020 involving left-wing groups in street clashes, vandalism, and attacks on political targets. In 2021–2023, there was coordination of attacks against politicians and infrastructure under the slogans of “solidarity with imprisoned anarchists” and anti-militarism.
The attack on Berlin’s power grid in January 2026 was a turning point. The arson attack on parts of the power grid left around 45,000 households and thousands of businesses without electricity and heating. In winter temperatures, this posed a direct threat to local healthcare and life support systems.
Discussions on social media, including on Platform X, directly link the arson attacks on transformers to radical left-wing extremism. German authorities have classified the incident as politically motivated sabotage with signs of terrorism. For the first time in a long time, radical left-wing violence has demonstrated its ability to cause systemic failures comparable in effect to attacks by traditional terrorist organizations.
Despite the increase in the number of incidents, the threat of radical left-wing extremism has long been underestimated. The focus of European security policy has shifted towards right-wing extremism, although, for example, in 2022, 13 of the 16 completed terrorist attacks in the EU were carried out by left-wing radicals. This is largely explained by the historical memory of fascism and the perception of the left as the “lesser evil.”
The European Radicalization Prevention Network (RAN) points to the difficulties of working with left-wing extremists due to their fragmentation and openly anti-state stance. Unlike in the 1980s, when tough measures made it possible to eliminate structures such as the Red Brigades in Italy and the Red Army Faction (RAF) in Germany, today’s emphasis on “dialogue” leaves room for the spread of ideas.
The German example is telling. In 2020, left-wing radicals committed 6,632 crimes, including 1,237 violent ones, which sharply contrasts with claims of a “low level of threat.”
Although radical left-wing attacks do not usually result in fatalities, their frequency is increasing, and the damage to infrastructure and society is becoming more significant. History shows that radical left-wing terrorism intensifies during periods of social inequality and political crisis. Europe already went through this in the 1970s.
Left-wing radical movements in Europe today remain a relatively niche but increasingly dangerous factor of political instability. The Berlin blackout showed that this is no longer just about symbolic actions, but a real threat. If history repeats itself, the continent will pay a high price.