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Terrorism
84 stories on Terrorism. For each one: what the left says, what the right says, and what both agree on. RSS feed
- Officials Call Cockpit Stabbing a 'Jihadist Terror Attack' — Netanyahu Says Too Early to Tell
Oct 1, 2026
Left: The caution from Netanyahu and the careful BBC and CBS framing on motive reflects responsible journalism, given that investigators had not yet established whether the co-pilot acted alone, was mentally unwell, or had any organizational ties.
Right: Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, moved quickly to call this an attempted jihadist terrorist attack because the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash a plane carrying mostly Israeli civilians, a pattern consistent with ideologically motivated violence rather than a personal dispute.
- ISIS Supporter Released Early Kills ROTC Instructor Before Students Stop Him
Mar 13, 2026
Left: The heroic actions of ROTC students who subdued the attacker prevented further casualties and demonstrated remarkable courage under fire
Right: A convicted ISIS supporter was released early from prison and immediately committed a terrorist attack, exposing dangerous flaws in the justice system
- Lebanese Immigrant Rams Synagogue, Killed by Armed Security Guards
Mar 13, 2026
Left: The FBI's proactive active shooter training at Temple Israel just six weeks before the attack demonstrates the importance of federal resources and preparedness programs for protecting vulnerable communities
Right: The attacker was a Lebanese immigrant who became a naturalized U.S. citizen, raising concerns about immigration vetting processes and potential terrorist infiltration
- San Diego Mosque Shooters Livestreamed Attack, Left Nazi Symbols
May 19, 2026
Left: This attack represents the deadly consequences of normalized anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate that has reached record levels, with 8,683 bias complaints filed nationwide in recent years
Right: Despite California having the nation's strictest gun control laws including assault weapon bans, waiting periods, and red flag laws, these regulations failed to prevent this tragedy
- Teenage Gunmen Kill Three in Hate Crime at San Diego Mosque
May 19, 2026
Left: The heroic security guard who died preventing greater carnage demonstrates the need for better protection of vulnerable religious communities
Right: California's extensive gun control laws, including assault weapon bans and waiting periods, failed to prevent this tragedy despite being the most restrictive in the nation
- Mamdani Condemns 'White Supremacy' Before Calling ISIS Attack 'Terrorism'
Mar 10, 2026
Left: The mayor appropriately condemned the anti-Muslim protest as white supremacist hate speech that has no place in New York City, while still defending the constitutional right to peaceful demonstration
Right: Mamdani prioritized condemning peaceful protesters exercising free speech rights over immediately addressing an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack with explosive devices
- El-Sayed Faces Scrutiny Over Family, Islamic Convention Ties
Aug 19, 2026
Left: El-Sayed was never charged with any crime and has no personal connection to his mother's decades-old employment, which she says was humanitarian work helping orphans.
Right: El-Sayed's birth mother's documented, extensive ties to an organization the U.S. Treasury designated as financing Osama bin Laden and the Taliban raise serious questions he has not fully addressed.
- Berlin Pride Terror Suspect, Known to Police, Killed After Manhunt
Jul 27, 2026
Left: The rapid police response and lethal outcome raise standard questions about accountability and use-of-force protocols even in a clear terrorism case.
Right: The attacker was a known Islamist radical who had already been convicted of preparing a violent act and released early under a deferred sentence, raising questions about lenient sentencing and monitoring failures.
- Synagogue Security Kills Armed Attacker Who Rammed Vehicle Into Building
Mar 12, 2026
Left: The swift response by trained security personnel prevented what could have been a devastating mass casualty event at the nation's largest Reform synagogue
Right: Armed security personnel successfully neutralized an active threat, demonstrating the critical importance of allowing trained defenders to protect houses of worship
- Piker: America Worse Than Al-Qaeda 'Pound for Pound'
Sep 18, 2026
Left: Piker's comments point to a documented U.S. missile strike that killed more than 100 people at a girls' school in Iran, a death toll he says demonstrates real-world harm from American military action.
Right: Piker's comparison equates a nation that has expanded freedom and opportunity globally with a terrorist network whose founding purpose was mass civilian murder, ignoring intent and context.
- Foiled Terror Plot Near US Base Fuels Iran-War Blowback Fears
Sep 29, 2026
Left: The incident demonstrates the real security costs of entangling the UK in America's war against Iran, a conflict many British lawmakers and citizens opposed from the outset.
Right: The plot targeting a base used to strike Iranian missile sites validates concerns that Iran and its proxies pose a direct, ongoing threat to Western personnel and allies, not just a distant regional actor.
- Berlin Pride Attack: Suspect Tied to 'Islamist Circles,' Manhunt Underway
Jul 26, 2026
Left: Officials and community leaders frame the attack as a direct assault on LGBTQ+ visibility and Berlin's identity as an open, cosmopolitan city, urging that solidarity with the victims and the queer community remain central to the response.
Right: The attack is described plainly as a suspected terrorist act tied to Islamist extremism, and outlets emphasize the suspect's specific identification as 'known to police' within Islamist circles.
- Trump DOJ Targets 12 Naturalized Citizens for Denaturalization
May 9, 2026
Left: Denaturalization is an extremely rare legal procedure that has historically been reserved for the most egregious cases like Nazi war criminals, with only 11 cases filed per year on average between 1990-2017
Right: These individuals obtained citizenship through fraud by concealing serious criminal histories including terrorism, murder, child sexual abuse, and war crimes from immigration authorities
- ISIS-Inspired Bombers Attack NYC Protest as Mayor Condemns 'White Supremacy'
Mar 9, 2026
Left: The bombing attack targeted a hate rally organized by white supremacist Jake Lang that promoted anti-Muslim bigotry and had no place in New York City
Right: ISIS-inspired terrorists used deadly explosive devices against American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights to protest
- Trump DOJ Targets 12 Naturalized Citizens for Denaturalization
May 9, 2026
Left: Denaturalization is an extreme legal remedy that has historically been used sparingly, averaging only 11 cases per year from 1990-2017, raising concerns about potential overreach and targeting of immigrant communities
Right: These individuals obtained citizenship through fraud by concealing serious crimes including terrorism, murder, child sexual abuse, and war crimes that would have disqualified them from naturalization
- ISIS Supporter Released Early From Prison Kills ROTC Instructor
Mar 13, 2026
Left: The criminal justice system worked as intended when students heroically stopped the attack and prevented further casualties
Right: A convicted ISIS supporter should never have been released early from prison given the ongoing terrorist threat he posed
- ISIS-Inspired Teens Throw Bombs at NYC Protest Outside Mayor's Home
Mar 10, 2026
Left: The attack occurred during a counterprotest against an anti-Muslim demonstration led by far-right activist Jake Lang, who was promoting Islamophobic rhetoric about the city's Muslim mayor
Right: Two ISIS-inspired terrorists attempted to carry out a deadly bombing attack on American soil, with one suspect expressing desire to exceed the carnage of the Boston Marathon bombing
- FlyDubai Hijacking: Terror Attack or Isolated Incident?
Oct 3, 2026
Left: The investigation is still ongoing and officials, including Netanyahu, have explicitly said there is no confirmed evidence of Iranian involvement or a broader terror network, so conclusions about organized jihadist terrorism remain premature.
Right: Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Netanyahu, have directly labeled this an attempted jihadist terror attack rooted in the co-pilot's religious radicalization, and that characterization should be taken seriously rather than downplayed.
- Security Red Flags on FlyDubai Co-Pilot Missed for Years
Oct 3, 2026
Left: The case underscores a systemic failure in international aviation security coordination, where one country's internal red flag on an employee failed to translate into a shared industry-wide warning, allowing a known risk to simply move to another carrier.
Right: This is a clear-cut case of ignored Islamist radicalization, where explicit warning signs, including extremist materials and sympathetic content about an al-Qaeda leader, were documented and then inexplicably overlooked by a second employer.
- UK Releases Terror Suspects on Bail; Trump Objects
Sep 29, 2026
Left: British counterterrorism authorities followed standard legal procedure by releasing suspects on bail while an investigation continues, which does not mean the case is closed or the men are cleared.
Right: Releasing suspects tied to a potential attack on a base critical to US military operations raises serious concerns about whether they could flee, destroy evidence, or attempt another attack while free.
- Fairford Terror Suspects Freed on Bail Sparks Outrage
Sep 29, 2026
Left: Bail under 'stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others' is not the same as freedom, and UK law allows for continued monitoring and further arrest if evidence warrants it.
Right: Five men allegedly caught near a military base used in active operations against Iran, traveling in vans and fleeing when spotted, represent a serious enough threat that release on bail feels premature to many.
- IED Thrown at Anti-Islam Protest Sparks Terror Investigation
Mar 8, 2026
Left: The explosive device was thrown by counter-protesters responding to a white supremacist demonstration that promoted anti-Muslim bigotry and hatred
Right: Two suspects shouting 'Allahu Akbar' threw a lethal improvised explosive device that could have killed police officers and peaceful protesters
- Trump, Rubio Blame Iran for UK Plot; Police Release Suspects on Bail
Sep 30, 2026
Left: British police released the five suspects on bail specifically because investigators found no explosives or weapons, and some UK security sources suggest the men may have simply been seeking to steal fuel rather than attack the base.
Right: Trump and Rubio's alarm reflects legitimate concern that a base actively used to launch bombing missions against Iran was targeted, especially after Iran's Revolutionary Guards explicitly threatened RAF Fairford in July.
- Iran Suspected in UK Bomb Plot Near US-Used Air Base
Sep 29, 2026
Left: Investigators have not confirmed a motive, and officials are treating Russian sabotage and Islamist extremism as equally plausible lines of inquiry alongside an Iran link, cautioning against premature conclusions.
Right: The plot targeted a base central to the US-led campaign against Iran, reinforcing concerns that Iran or its proxies are willing to strike Western soil in retaliation for military action against it.
- Mamdani Hands 9/11 Pen to Former Al-Qaeda Defense Lawyer
Sep 7, 2026
Left: Ramzi Kassem was included because he and his legal team helped draft both executive orders as part of his official duties as chief counsel, according to City Hall.
Right: Handing the pen to a lawyer who defended an al-Qaeda operative during a solemn 9/11 remembrance ceremony struck many as a shocking lack of judgment on one of the most sensitive days in the city's history.
- DOJ Deports Terror Suspect's Mother Using Never-Before-Used Secret Court
Jul 31, 2026
Left: Zada has never been publicly charged with any crime and has no known criminal history, yet she faces removal under a lower evidentiary standard than a criminal trial would require.
Right: The case highlights vetting failures during the rapid, large-scale evacuation and resettlement of Afghan nationals after the fall of Kabul, which critics warned at the time could let extremists into the country.
- Berlin Pride Attacker Was Freed Weeks Before Deadly Rampage
Jul 28, 2026
Left: Some LGBTQ organizers and activists have explicitly warned against letting the attack be politically weaponized against migrants or Muslims broadly, stressing that the perpetrator's individual radicalization should not be used to smear entire communities.
Right: The suspect's release despite clear documented ties to ISIS recruitment, radicalization, and prior violent-crime convictions exemplifies a systemic failure of judicial leniency and lax enforcement against known Islamist threats.
- Police Kick Terrorist Suspect During Arrest After Jewish Men Stabbed
Apr 30, 2026
Left: Police used excessive force by repeatedly kicking a suspect in the head while he was already on the ground and restrained
Right: Officers showed remarkable courage confronting an armed terrorist without firearms, preventing further casualties in the Jewish community
- NYC Mayor's Wife Celebrated Terrorists on Social Media
Mar 21, 2026
Left: These posts were made when Duwaji was a teenager and young adult, reflecting views from her formative years that may not represent her current positions
Right: Celebrating known terrorists and plane hijackers demonstrates a pattern of extremist sympathies that raises serious concerns about judgment and values
- UK Arrests Iranian Dual National as Burnham Says Iran 'Played a Part'
Oct 2, 2026
Left: Authorities are deliberately cautious about publicly confirming a foreign-state link before the investigation is complete, reflecting standard due process rather than a cover-up
Right: The initial reluctance to name Iran or discuss the suspects' backgrounds reflects a broader pattern of authorities downplaying terror threats tied to immigration or Islamist motives
- Activist Wished Berlin Pride Attacker Was 'White Christian'
Jul 28, 2026
Left: Pride organizers and LGBTQ+ groups explicitly warned against letting the attack be 'instrumentalized' to fuel anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-immigrant sentiment.
Right: The attacker was a known Islamist radical with a criminal record who had already been convicted of plotting violence and publishing ISIS propaganda, yet was released pending appeal instead of being detained.
- Iran Threatens Tourist Sites Worldwide as Spring Break Begins
Mar 21, 2026
Left: Iran's threats represent desperate rhetoric from a regime under severe military pressure, with its leadership decimated and infrastructure crippled by ongoing strikes
Right: Iran's explicit threats against tourist destinations worldwide represent a serious escalation that puts American civilians at direct risk during peak travel season
- San Diego Mosque Shooters Left Neo-Nazi Manifesto Rejecting Both Left and Right
May 20, 2026
Left: The attack represents the deadly consequences of online radicalization platforms that allow extremist ideologies to flourish and connect vulnerable young people
Right: The shooters explicitly rejected both conservative and liberal politics, making clear their neo-Nazi ideology was distinct from mainstream right-wing beliefs
- Iran blamed for UK base plot, but suspects released on bail
Oct 1, 2026
Left: Officials emphasize that despite the public use of the word 'released,' the five men remain under the 'strictest possible bail conditions' and under close surveillance by UK security services, who have 'complete confidence' in their handling of the case.
Right: The decision to release suspected terror plotters on bail — even with conditions — raises serious alarm when officials themselves say 'strong indications' point to a hostile foreign state's involvement in a plot against a military base.
- UK says Iran behind base plot; suspects freed without charges
Sep 30, 2026
Left: The quick release of suspects on bail, rather than holding them the full 14 days allowed under counterterrorism law, suggests police followed evidence rather than political pressure, and that restraint deserves acknowledgment rather than criticism.
Right: A sitting prime minister publicly stating there are 'strong indications' of Iranian involvement is a significant and serious escalation that should not be downplayed, given it targets a base actively used to strike Iran.
- 9/11 Widow Accuses Decades of Presidents of Shielding Saudi Arabia
Sep 11, 2026
Left: The moment underscores how U.S. presidents from both parties have prioritized the strategic and economic relationship with Saudi Arabia over accountability for 9/11 families seeking answers.
Right: Terry Strada's emotional, unscripted remarks at a solemn ceremony reflect a legitimate and long-standing grievance that deserves attention regardless of political affiliation.
- Secretive 'Alien Terrorist' Court Deports Afghan Woman Without Public Evidence
Sep 11, 2026
Left: Zada's attorneys were denied access to the classified evidence used to justify her removal, raising fundamental due process concerns even for lawful permanent residents accused of serious crimes.
Right: A woman who supported her son and son-in-law's ISIS-inspired plot to carry out a mass shooting on Election Day has been permanently removed from the United States, which officials call a major national security win.
- Trump Touts Role in Freeing Kidnapped Missionary; State Dept Silent
Aug 14, 2026
Left: Coverage centers on SIM International's confirmation of Rideout's release and his health status rather than crediting any single actor for securing his freedom.
Right: President Trump publicly announced Rideout's release and credited his administration's efforts, calling it a top priority since the kidnapping occurred.
- Berlin Pride Attack: Islamist Terror or Far-Right Opportunism?
Jul 29, 2026
Left: The suspect was born and raised in Germany, undercutting attempts to blame the attack on migration policy specifically, since he was not an immigrant but a German citizen radicalized domestically.
Right: Germany's interior minister officially classified the attack as Islamist terrorism, and the suspect had previously tried to join ISIS and had been imprisoned for planning an attack before his release in May.
- Terror-Linked Democrat Wins Primary Despite 9/11 District Connections
Jun 4, 2026
Left: Hamawy is a decorated Army combat surgeon who saved Senator Tammy Duckworth's life in Iraq and volunteered as a 9/11 first responder, demonstrating his service to America
Right: Hamawy testified as a defense witness for the Blind Sheikh, a convicted terrorist who masterminded plots against American targets including the World Trade Center
- Trump Claims Major ISIS Victory in Joint Nigeria Operation
May 16, 2026
Left: The operation demonstrates effective multilateral cooperation and intelligence sharing between the U.S. and African partners in combating global terrorism
Right: Trump's decisive leadership and clear directive resulted in the elimination of one of the world's most dangerous terrorists who was actively plotting attacks against Americans
- FBI: Michigan Synagogue Attacker Acted Under Hezbollah Direction and Control
Apr 1, 2026
Left: The attacker was primarily motivated by personal grief over family members killed in Israeli airstrikes, including his brother who died in Lebanon
Right: This was a coordinated terrorist attack carried out under Hezbollah's direction and control, not the actions of an isolated lone wolf
- CNN Deletes Sympathetic Post About Alleged ISIS-Inspired NYC Bombers
Mar 11, 2026
Left: Media outlets should carefully consider how their framing and language choices can inadvertently humanize or minimize serious criminal acts
Right: CNN's original framing portrayed ISIS-inspired terrorists as sympathetic victims rather than dangerous criminals who pledged allegiance to a terrorist organization
- NYC Mayor's Wife Liked Posts Celebrating Oct 7 Attack
Mar 9, 2026
Left: Anti-Islam protesters led by far-right influencer Jake Lang organized a hate-filled demonstration targeting the mayor based on his religion and ethnicity
Right: The mayor's wife liked social media posts celebrating the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack that killed 1,200 people and involved sexual violence
- UK Blames Iran for Bomber Base Plot; Suspects Released on Bail
Oct 14, 2026
Left: The UK government's formal attribution came through a coordinated 28-country joint statement, reflecting a methodical multilateral process rather than a rushed accusation.
Right: The fact that nearly all suspects were released on bail despite the severity of an alleged plot against U.S. bombers raises serious concerns about whether the UK is treating this threat with adequate urgency.
- Security Failures Let Flagged Extremist Pilot Target Israel-Bound Jet
Oct 3, 2026
Left: The case highlights how radicalization can slip through corporate hiring processes when profit and route demand take priority over rigorous vetting, raising broader questions about airline industry accountability rather than any single nation or religion.
Right: The attacker's documented history of extremist radicalization, including alleged social media posts expressing a desire to kill Jews, shows a clear ideological motive that should not be minimized or treated as ambiguous.
- Did Media Downplay a Cockpit Stabbing as Mere 'Altercation'?
Oct 3, 2026
Left: Initial wire reports used neutral, standard journalistic language like 'altercation' because full details were still unconfirmed in the immediate aftermath of a fast-moving, chaotic incident.
Right: Describing a mid-air stabbing and attempted cockpit takeover as merely an 'altercation' understates a violent, life-threatening act and misleads readers about its severity.
- FBI Foils ISIS-Inspired Attack Plot by U.S.-Born 21-Year-Old
Sep 16, 2026
Left: The successful, months-long FBI investigation demonstrates that existing surveillance and law enforcement tools worked as intended to prevent mass violence before anyone was harmed.
Right: The case illustrates a broader pattern documented in a national report showing that the vast majority of ISIS-related defendants in the U.S. since 2014 have been citizens or lawful permanent residents, challenging assumptions that terrorism is primarily an external threat tied to immigration.
- Secret Terror Court Used for First Time to Deport Afghan Woman
Sep 13, 2026
Left: Haji Zada was a lawful permanent resident, and her case raises questions about due process when classified evidence is withheld from both the public and the person facing removal, with her own court-appointed attorneys contesting the constitutionality of the proceedings.
Right: This case demonstrates a long-dormant legal tool, created by Congress in 1996, finally being used to remove someone tied to a plot to commit mass murder on Election Day 2024 using AK-47s obtained from an undercover FBI agent.
- Somali World Cup Referee Denied US Entry Over Terror Ties
Jun 10, 2026
Left: The denial represents discriminatory immigration policies that unfairly target individuals based on nationality and religion rather than concrete evidence of wrongdoing
Right: National security must take precedence over sporting events, and the administration has legitimate intelligence concerns about Artan's connections to terror organizations