The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague (ICCT) focuses on themes at the intersection of countering violent extremism and criminal justice sector responses, as well as human rights related aspects of counter-terrorism. One of ICCT´s projects is the Countering Lone-Actor Terrorism (CLAT) project, which aims to improve understanding of, and responses to, the phenomenon of (potentially) violent lone actors through analysis of comprehensive data on cases from across Europe.

One of the publications within this project is the toolkit for mental health experts and social workers in daling with lone-actor terrorism. Written by Edwin Bakker and Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn.

The aim of this paper is to draw out practical implications for mental health practitioners and social workers in dealing with Lone-Actor Terrorism. It is not intended to provide a profile of lone-actor terrorists, but rather to offer guidance that may be of use to practitioners in Europe (and beyond), supporting the development of strategies to detect and deal with potential lone-actor terrorists and to understand the possible risk posed by persons of interest.

This paper presents three sets of recommendations offering guidance for mental health practitioners and social workers to prevent lone actor terrorism by sharing information, fostering engagement, awareness and a multi-agency approach.

Read the Lone-Actor Terrorism Toolkit Paper 1