After the Iran War, 'Lone Wolves' on the Rise... Heightened Security at Synagogues and International Events

Emergence of Independent Terrorists After the Iran War
So-Called "Lone Wolves" Join Iran's Retaliation with Self-Armament
Consecutive Attacks in the United States, Netherlands, and Belgium Heighten Threat

Following the war between the United States and Israel and Iran, so-called "lone wolves," or independent terrorists, have emerged, heightening tensions.

On the 13th (local time), police tape is seen outside the Israeli synagogue in Oakland, Michigan, USA. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to major foreign media outlets such as Reuters on March 14 (local time), independent terrorists, known as "lone wolves" and presumed to support Iran, have become active in the United States, Europe, and other regions. On this day, an improvised explosive device detonated at a Jewish school in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, damaging the outer wall. This incident occurred just one day after an arson attack at a synagogue in Rotterdam, the country’s second-largest city.

In response to the series of terrorist attacks targeting Jewish facilities, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten expressed solidarity, stating, "We are aware of the fear and anger felt by the Jewish community." Fortunately, there were no casualties in either incident.

On March 9, part of a synagogue facility in Liège, Belgium, was damaged by explosives. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever classified the incident as an "anti-Semitic attack." In addition, on March 8 in Oslo, Norway, an improvised explosive device detonated at the U.S. embassy building, shattering the entrance glass. Three Iraqi-born citizens, named as suspects, were arrested three days later on March 11.

On the 12th (local time), two people, including the perpetrator, died in a shooting targeting the U.S. Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Photo by AP News Agency

In the United States, two consecutive terrorist attacks resulting in casualties took place on March 12. That morning, at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, a shooting targeting the U.S. Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) left two people dead, including the perpetrator. The shooter had previously served in the Virginia National Guard and had been caught in 2016 attempting to provide material support to the Islamic terrorist group Islamic State (IS), for which he served eight years in prison before being released in 2024. According to CNN, he asked in the classroom whether it was an ROTC-related class before opening fire and shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great").

At noon on March 12, a truck carrying explosives rammed into a synagogue in Oakland, Michigan, resulting in the death of the driver. The perpetrator of the truck attack was a naturalized American of Lebanese origin, and the vehicle was loaded with large amounts of flammable materials and gunpowder. According to AP, "The perpetrator took his own life after the vehicle caught fire," and "he had recently lost four family members due to an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon." At the time, more than 140 preschool children were in the synagogue, but no additional fatalities occurred.

'Lone Wolves' Supporting Iran, Acting Independently Without Affiliation to Specific Organizations

These terrorist acts are suspected to be "lone wolf" activities, as the perpetrators were armed independently, not affiliated with any specific organization, and participated in what appears to be Iran's retaliation against the United States and Israel. Kenneth Gray, a former FBI agent, explained to Reuters, "Organized terrorism can be detected through weapon transport or fund transfers, but it is difficult to track crimes committed individually by lone wolves."

Meanwhile, there are concerns that the United States' counterterrorism capabilities have been weakened due to stricter immigration enforcement under the Donald Trump administration. The New York Times (NYT) pointed out, "Thousands of Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice agents have, over the past year, been assigned to immigration enforcement, the Trump administration's top priority."

This could pose a threat to multiple international events, including the Academy Awards held on March 15 and the North and Central America World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June to July. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which is in charge of the Academy Awards, emphasized, "We are maintaining a high level of readiness," and added, "We are on alert for all potential threats, including lone wolves."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.