Conclusion Paper: Thematic Panel 5 “ Lone Actors: Who Are They, What Is Their Modus Operandi, and How Are They Connected Online”

Thematic Panel 5 hosted its first meeting entitled “Lone Actors: Who Are They, What Is Their Modus Operandi, and How Are They Connected Online” in Brussels. It counted with the attendance of 21 participants, made up by EU Member States policy makers, mental health professionals, practitioners, researchers and law enforcement officers from across Europe. Participants were chosen following a balanced representation of gender and Member States, as well as considering the expertise of applicants and its fit into the topic of the thematic panel. In this vein, it is foreseen to maintain the same participants in future meetings, bringing thus continuity to the debates in the different meetings, and avoiding duplications in the discussions.

Thematic Panel 5, as part of the EU Knowledge Hub of Prevention of Radicalisation, aims to clarify the concept of “lone actors” to enhance EU-level cooperation on the issue, expand and consolidate knowledge on related topics guided by EU strategic orientations on countering radicalisation, thereby supporting actors (e.g., policy makers and practitioners) in Member States and priority third countries in developing strategies, policies, methods, and practices, with the knowledge produced compiled into a final report translated into multiple languages.

The first meeting of Thematic Panel 5 focused on “Lone Actors – Who Are They, What Is Their Modus Operandi, and How Are They Connected Online,” examined definitions of “lone actors” across Member States and research, evaluating whether they operated independently or were linked to other actors and small groups. It explored their modus operandi, the role of the online world in their activities, and the processes of their recruitment into extremism and terrorism via digital platforms, deepening insights into these dynamics.

Thus, this opening session addressed key issues such as lone actor’s profiles, patterns and inspiration through an interactive and collaborative dynamic. The following guiding questions were set for this meeting:

• Defining Lone Actors: Who Are They?
• Which is the Modus Operandi of Lone Actors?
• How Lone Actors Connect, Interact and Radicalise Online?