Spotlight on the Lone Actor challenge

As RAN Practitioners enters into a new year, Europe continues to straddle the ongoing battle between keeping societies and communities as open as possible, against the continual threat and disruption posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. For P/CVE practitioners, their work in engaging vulnerable individuals both online and in communities remains ever difficult. In this environment, RAN practitioners must continue to be aware of evolving and emerging P/CVE threats.

In 2021, Europe found itself facing a surge in conspiracy narratives and disinformation, the Taliban’s return in Afghanistan and the growing threat of both violent left and right wing extremism. In amongst these threats, Lone Actor incidents have also regained media attention, with attacks in Kongsberg, Norway and Leigh-On-Sea, the United Kingdom, two prominent examples that have highlighted the ongoing need to understand and address the Lone Actor threat.