New Orleans attack raises a critical question: what is fueling such acts of terror?

By N.S. Venkataraman* 

The truck attack in the French Quarter of New Orleans, USA, on New Year’s Day killed at least 15 innocent people and injured 30 more. Similarly, a Tesla Cybertruck was used in an attack targeting the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, leading to one fatality. Recently, an SUV drove into a Christmas market in Germany, killing five people. Apart from these tragic events, several other terrorist attacks have been reported across Europe, the USA, and Canada in recent months. Unfortunately, such incidents no longer evoke widespread shock, as they appear to have become disturbingly routine in these regions.

The undeniable fact is that most of these attacks have involved Islamic extremists (often referred to as Islamic terrorists). This raises a critical question: what is fueling these acts of terror?

Some Islamic groups, such as the Islamic State (IS) and other extremist organizations, propagate the belief that violence and physical assaults can advance their goal of spreading the dominance of Islam globally. These extremists exhibit unwavering loyalty to their religion, which, in itself, cannot be faulted. However, their allegiance to the countries where they reside or hold citizenship appears to be far weaker. This mindset leads them to justify attacks that disrupt the peace and security of their host nations if they believe it serves their religious cause.

It is important to acknowledge that the Holy Quran, in its original form, preaches love and compassion and does not endorse violence. Most Muslims worldwide reject the violent methods adopted by extremists, but they remain a silent majority. A small number of extremists, driven by false notions, continue to perpetrate violence, causing significant damage and concern globally.

The current crisis can be traced, in part, to the earlier policies of European countries—particularly Germany—which welcomed migrants from several Islamic nations on compassionate grounds without sufficient checks and controls. This leniency allowed extremist elements to establish a foothold in Europe and create widespread problems. A similar situation has occurred in Canada. In addition, Europe, the USA, and Canada reportedly host significant populations of illegal migrants. Former U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly highlighted this issue during his presidency. While most illegal migrants may not be inclined toward violence, small extremist factions have likely infiltrated these populations.

Governments and citizens in Europe, the USA, and Canada are now coming to terms with the reality that the unchecked entry of migrants has created a deeply rooted problem, leading to social tensions and law-and-order challenges with no immediate solutions.

To address this growing issue, it is imperative for the governments of Europe, the USA, and Canada to collaborate and establish a dedicated task force to identify and deal with violent Islamic extremists. Swift and appropriate action is needed to restore social peace in these regions. The current lack of a cohesive strategy to tackle extremist violence threatens to push social harmony to an irreparable breaking point.

It is essential to avoid targeting Islam as a religion but equally necessary to launch strong campaigns against Islamic extremism. Peace-loving Muslims must also be encouraged to openly condemn terrorist attacks rather than remain passive observers.

By targeting Christmas crowds and New Year’s celebrations, terrorists have sent a clear and troubling signal: their violence is not abating, and attacks may become even more frequent in 2025. This grim warning demands immediate and decisive countermeasures to safeguard the safety and harmony of these nations.

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*Trustee, Nandini Voice for the Deprived, Chennai