(TLP:CLEAR) Research Report – The 2025 Annual Review of Plots and Attacks Across the U.S.

Summary: The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), an independent research organization, has published a report, “The 2025 Annual Review of Plots and Attacks Across the US,” which analyzes attacks and disrupted plots in the U.S. in 2025 linked to known extremist movements, online radicalization or grievance-based violence.

Analyst Note: Violent extremists continue to present a lethal threat to people and property in the U.S. homeland. ISD’s report observed 74 violent attacks and disrupted plots in the U.S. in 2025 linked to known violent extremist groups, online radicalization, or grievance-based violence. The 39 attacks and 35 plots represent a 27% increase year-on-year compared to 2024. Attacks in 2025 were also significantly more deadly, with 50 people killed and 162 injured, a 316% increase in deaths and a 350% increase in injuries, according to the report. Some other key findings of the report include:

• Of these discernible threat actor types, subcultures of nihilistic violence motivated the most incidents.
• Islamic State-linked attackers caused the most deaths, largely driven by the New Year’s Day ramming attack in New Orleans that killed 14 and injured 57.
• Firearms were involved in 69% of incidents, making them the most commonly used weapons.

This report demonstrates the persisting threat of violent extremists. Moreover, several recent open-source reports highlight recent activity among violent extremists both in the U.S. and in Europe. One article reports that neo-Nazi active clubs from around the U.S. has been participating in tactical training with other white nationalist groups in Virginia as part of what their founder called a “tip-off point for a fascist cultural revolution.” Another article warns that the violent extremist group, The Base, is actively forming new cells in Europe.

Original Source: https://www.isdglobal.org/publication/2025-annual-review-plots-attacks-across-us/

Additional Reading:

• Members of neo-Nazi ‘active clubs’ join combat events at secretive Virginia compound
• An American in Russia Is Linked to Neo-Nazi Terror Cells Across Europe

Mitigation Recommendations:

• US Violent Extremist Mobilization Indicators 2021 Edition
• CISA – Personal Security Considerations Action Guide

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 1, 2, & 4