On Thursday, President Donald Trump‘s administration designated four European leftist groups as terrorist organisations, following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. These groups, based in Europe and without operations in the United States, include an Italian anarchist organisation linked to explosive packages sent in 2003, two Greek networks involved in bombings in Athens, and an anti-fascist group prosecuted in Germany for an attack against neo-Nazis.
While Europe has a history of left-wing political violence, recent decades in the U.S. have seen violence predominantly from the right, according to various studies, including those by the Justice Department. However, politically motivated attacks across ideologies have increased in the U.S. in recent years, culminating in Kirk’s fatal shooting in September, allegedly driven by hostility toward his views on transgender issues.
The Trump administration stated that “anarchist militants have waged terror campaigns in the United States and Europe, conspiring to undermine the foundations of Western Civilisation through their brutal attacks.”
What does the designation mean?
The recent designation by the administration enables the targeting of any financial support that certain networks may receive in the United States. Most anarchist and Antifa (anti-fascist) groups function as loose affiliations of individuals rather than structured organisations, with some advocating for violence only against property. For instance, a Greek network believed to have bombed a government building and a train company headquarters alerted authorities in advance to facilitate evacuations, which helped prevent injuries.
While some European leftist groups may share ideological beliefs, police operations during arrests typically reveal a lack of resource-sharing. The State Department’s announcement, made in the evening in Europe, received an immediate lack of response from the relevant governments.
This designation has historical precedent; Greece has a long history of attacks by far-left and anarchist organisations, some targeting U.S. officials, and many have been classified as terrorist organisations by the United States since the 1970s. Furthermore, this is not the first time the Trump administration has addressed Antifa; an executive order was issued two weeks after the Kirk assassination, designating it as a domestic terrorist organisation.
The practical implications of this designation remain unclear, as domestic groups cannot be included on the State Department’s list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations. Additionally, a prior executive order directed the Department of Justice to investigate ActBlue, the primary fundraising platform used by the Democratic Party.
Who’s who of these leftist groups
The Trump administration recently focused on the International Revolutionary Front, or Informal Anarchist Federation, which gained attention for sending explosive packages to Romano Prodi in 2003-2004 and for a 2012 attack on the chief executive of Ansaldo Nucleare. Two members received ten-year sentences enhanced by terrorism charges.
Armed Proletarian Justice claimed responsibility for a failed bombing outside the Athens riot police headquarters in December 2023, and a subsequent explosion at Greece’s labour department was linked to Revolutionary Class Self-Defence.
Additionally, Antifa Ost was convicted for attacks on suspected neo-Nazis in Germany and faces new charges for similar actions in Budapest. The far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán subsequently designated the group as a terrorist organisation.
This article used information from The Associated Press
