List of terrorist incidents in 2020 explained

This is a list of terrorist incidents which took place in 2020, including attacks by violent non-state actors for political motives. Note that terrorism related to drug wars and cartel violence is not included in these lists. Ongoing military conflicts are listed separately.

Guidelines

List

Total incidents:

DateTypedata-sort-type="number" Deaddata-sort-type="number" InjuredLocationArticleDetailsPerpetratorPart of
9 JanuaryMass shooting89 (+77)6Filingue Department, NigerBattle of ChinagodrarMilitants on motorbikes and in cars attacked a military outpost at Chinagodrar in the Tillabéri Region near the border with Mali. 77 militants were killed with the help of French airstrikes.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Islamic State in the Greater SaharaInsurgency in the Maghreb
10 JanuarySuicide bombing15 (+1)19Quetta, PakistanJanuary 2020 Quetta bombingSuicide bombing in a Taliban-run mosque.[7] [8] [9] [10] Islamic State – Khorasan ProvinceInsurgency in Balochistan
Islamic State–Taliban conflict
18 JanuarySuicide car bombing4 (+1)20Afgooye, Somalia2020 Afgooye bombingA suicide car bomber targeted a place where Turkish engineers and Somali police were having lunch in Lower Shabelle.Most of the casualties were police officers.[11] [12] [13] Al-ShabaabSomali Civil War
2 FebruaryStabbing0 (+1)2London, United Kingdom2020 Streatham stabbingA man who had recently been released from prison stabbed two people in public, before being shot and killed by police. Europol classified the attack as jihadist terrorism.[14] [15] Lone wolfIslamic terrorism in Europe
19 FebruaryShootings10 (+1)5Hanau, GermanyHanau shootingsShootings in two shisha bars, one at the Midnight bar in the central square and the other at the Arena Bar & Café in the western Kesselstadt neighborhood.[16] [17] Four people were killed in the first shooting, while five were killed in the second. He killed his mother in their apartment and then committed suicide.[18] The police initiated a large-scale investigation together with the CID. The attacker, a 43-year-old man, expressed far-right views and hate for non-German people in a letter of confession and a video.[19] [20] [21] Six of the people killed in the shisha bars shootings were foreigners, while three were German citizens with foreign origins.[22] [23] Tobias RathjenRight-wing terrorism in Germany
24 FebruaryStabbing12Toronto, Canada2020 Toronto machete attackA woman was stabbed to death and two other people were wounded in a stabbing attack at a massage parlor in the North York area. A 17-year-old boy was arrested.[24] Oguzhan Sert Terrorism in Canada
6 MarchMass shooting, missile attack32 (+2)82Kabul, Afghanistan6 March 2020 Kabul shootingGunmen attacked a ceremony commemorating the Hazara leader Abdul Ali Mazari attended by several high-profile politicians. Both attackers were killed after a standoff.[25] Islamic State – Khorasan ProvinceWar in Afghanistan
25 MarchSuicide bombings, mass shooting, hostage taking25 (+3)9Kabul, AfghanistanKabul gurdwara attackMultiple gunmen and suicide bombers opened fire on a gurdwara.[26] Islamic State – Khorasan ProvinceWar in Afghanistan
4 April Mass stabbing 25Romans-sur-Isère, France2020 Romans-sur-Isère knife attackA 33-year-old man stabbed 7 people before being arrested by police. Europol classified the attack as jihadist terrorism.Lone wolfIslamic terrorism in Europe
28 AprilGrenade attack53 50+Afrin, Syria2020 Afrin bombingA grenade caused a fuel tanker to explode near a market and a government ministry.[27] [28] YPG (suspected)SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo
20 JuneMass stabbing33Reading, United Kingdom2020 Reading stabbings25-year-old Libyan born Khairi Saadallah attacked two groups of people socialising in Forbury Gardens with a knife while shouting "unintelligible words" before being arrested nearly 30 minutes later.[29] the judge said it was a terrorist attack.[30] Khairi SaadallahIslamic terrorism in Europe
29 JuneGrenade attack, shooting4 (+4)7Karachi, PakistanPakistan Stock Exchange attackMilitants with grenades and automatic rifles attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange building. All four attackers were killed by the police.[31] [32] [33] [34] Balochistan Liberation ArmyInsurgency in Balochistan
21 JulyHostage taking, shooting00Lutsk, UkraineLutsk hostage crisisA man armed with firearms and explosives kept 13 people hostage in a bus in the city centre. After President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a short video on his Facebook page referencing the film Earthlings, all hostages were released unharmed. The gunman was arrested.[35] Maksym KryvoshTerrorism in Ukraine
2 and 3 AugustSuicide car bombing, mass shooting, prison escape21+ (+8)50+Jalalabad, AfghanistanJalalabad prison attackMilitants attacked a prison holding mostly Islamic State or Taliban members. Around 300 prisoners escaped.[36] [37] [38] Islamic State – Khorasan ProvinceWar in Afghanistan
24 AugustMotorcycle bombing, suicide bombing14 (+1)78Jolo, Philippines2020 Jolo bombingsA motorcycle bomb exploded next to a military truck outside the Paradise Food Plaza. Six soldiers, six civilians and a police officer were killed. One hour later a female suicide bomber blew herself up in front of a branch of the Development Bank of the Philippines, killing herself and a soldier who stopped her. A total of 78 people were wounded after the bombings.[39] [40] [41] Islamic State – East Asia Province
25 SeptemberStabbing02Paris, France2020 Paris stabbing attackA 25-year-old man stabbed two people outside the former headquarters of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which is now used by a television production company that employed the two wounded victims. Europol classified the attack as jihadist terrorism.[42] Lone wolfIslamic terrorism in Europe
4 OctoberStabbing11Dresden, Germany2020 Dresden knife attackA 20-year-old man stabbed two people, killing one of them. The attacker was later arrested. Europol classified the attack as jihadist terrorism.[43] Lone wolfIslamic terrorism in Europe
12 OctoberShooting0 (+1)1Zagreb, Croatia2020 Zagreb shootingA 22-year old individual opened fire at the Banski dvori (seat of the Croatian government) and injured a police officer, before committing suicide.[44] Lone wolfRight-wing terrorism in Croatia
16 OctoberStabbing, decapitation1 (+1)0Éragny-sur-Oise, FranceMurder of Samuel PatyAn 18-year-old man beheaded a teacher near a school in a suburb of Paris before being shot dead by police. The victim is said to have shown controversial cartoons of Muhammad to his students. Europol classified the attack as jihadist terrorism.[45] Lone wolfIslamic terrorism in Europe
26 OctoberSuicide bombing0 (+2)3İskenderun, Turkey2020 İskenderun bombingTwo people who ambushed Turkish security forces in Payas escaped to İskenderun, where they ambushed police forces again. One of them was shot dead by police and the other one detonated the bombs, injuring a police officer and 2 civilians and killing the perpetrator.[46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] Kurdistan Workers' PartyKurdish–Turkish conflict
27 OctoberBombing8136Peshawar, Pakistan2020 Peshawar school bombingExplosion during a class at a religious school.[52] [53] Islamists (suspected)Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
29 OctoberStabbing30 (+1)Nice, France2020 Nice stabbingA 21-year-old man stabbed four people at Notre-Dame de Nice, killing three, before being shot by police and taken into custody. Europol classified the attack as jihadist terrorism.[54] Lone wolfIslamic terrorism in Europe
2 NovemberShooting32 (+3)50Kabul, Afghanistan2020 Kabul University attackMilitants opened fire inside Kabul University, killing 19 students and wounding 22 others. The gunmen came into crossfire with local security forces. Three of the terrorists were shot and killed.[55] Islamic State – Khorasan ProvinceWar in Afghanistan
2 NovemberMass shooting4 (+1)23Vienna, Austria2020 Vienna attackA 20-year-old man shot people at random before being shot dead by police. Europol classified the attack as jihadist terrorism.[56] Lone wolfIslamic terrorism in Europe
28 NovemberMassacre, beheading1106Jere, NigeriaKoshebe massacreCivilians, most of whom were peasant farmers, were killed as they worked in rice fields in Koshebe near Maiduguri. Crops worth millions of Naira were destroyed.[57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63] Boko HaramBoko Haram insurgency
10 December Car Bomb11 - 1213Ras al-Ayn, SyriaRas al-Ayn bombingA car bomb exploded at a checkpoint run by Turkish supported Syrian National Army rebels in the Hasakah Governorate.[64] [65] Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) – Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo
25 DecemberVehicle Explosion0 (1)8Nashville, Tennessee, USA2020 Nashville bombingOn Christmas morning, an RV was parked in downtown Nashville across from the AT&T building. A call was placed into the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department indicating that "shots had been fired". Responding officers discovered the RV, and a message broadcasting from it indicating that the RV had a bomb inside and would detonate. Nashville police immediately called for the bomb squad to attend and officers began evacuating nearby residential buildings when the RV detonated at 06:30 damaging at least 41 buildings.[66] . 911 telecommunications for at least 180 miles were affected by the explosion as well as hospital communications within Tennessee as well as wireless communications throughout five Southern states including Tennessee. On December 27th Anthony Quinn Warner, a computer IT specialist, was identified as the suspect by federal investigators and was declared dead as human remains found in the RV were positively identified as him.[67] [68] [69] Anthony Quinn Warner (suspect)[70] Conspiracy Theorist [71]
29 December Home made bomb30Hombori, MaliOperation Barkhane bombingThree French soldiers serving as part of Operation Barkhane were killed when their armored vehicle was struck by a home made bomb.[72] Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal MusliminMali War----------------------->
30 December Bombing, mass shooting25110Aden, Yemen2020 Aden attacksOne or two explosions struck the airport in Aden as the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi was returning after agreeing to a power-sharing agreement earlier in the week with southern separatists. Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed was whisked away quickly to the security of the government palace following the attack. At least 25 people were killed, with three being medics from the Red Crescent, in the explosion and another 110 were injured, including 3 Red Crescent medics. It is unknown who is behind the blast(s) but Houthi rebels are suspected.[73] [74] [75] Houthis (suspected)Yemeni Civil War

Notes and References

  1. News: At least 25 Niger soldiers, 63 'terrorists' killed in attack on army base in Tillaberi region . Fergus . Kelly . 10 January 2020 . 11 January 2020 . The Defense Post.
  2. News: Niger says 25 soldiers killed in latest attack blamed on jihadist militants . 9 January 2020 . 11 January 2020 . . Reuters .
  3. News: In Niger, 25 soldiers killed in suspected militant attack . The Associated Press . The Associated Press . 9 January 2020 . 11 January 2020 . . The New York Times Company.
  4. Web site: Security Sources: Niger Army Base Attack Death Toll Hits 89. Voice of America. 11 January 2020 . en. 2020-01-12.
  5. News: Niger government revises toll of jihadist attack to 89. The Hindu. January 13, 2020. www.thehindu.com.
  6. Web site: Islamic State kills almost 100 soldiers in Niger. Long War Journal. 14 January 2020. en. 2020-01-14.
  7. News: Bomb attack targets Worshippers at Quetta mosque, killing 14 . . 10 January 2020 . . Asad . Hashim . Saadullah . Akhter . 10 January 2020 . Al Jazeera Media Network.
  8. News: DSP Amanullah, Imam among 15 martyred in Quetta mosque blast . . 10 January 2020 . 10 January 2020.
  9. News: Pakistan Mosque Bombing Kills 15 . . 11 January 2020 . 10 January 2020 . Ayaz . Gul.
  10. News: Pakistan suicide blast at Taliban-run mosque kills at least 15, in attack claimed by Isis . . 11 January 2020 . 11 January 2020 . Agence France-Presse . DPA . Agence France-Presse.
  11. Web site: Somalia: Turkish workers wounded in deadly al-Shabab car bombing . Al Jazeera . 20 January 2020.
  12. Web site: Al-Shabab Claims Responsibility For Suicide Car Bombing In Somalia . Forces.net. 18 January 2020 .
  13. News: Sheikh . Abdi . Car bomb attack wounds Turkish contractors, police near Somali capital . Reuters. 18 January 2020 .
  14. News: Walawalkar. Aaron. Weaver. Matthew. 2020-02-03. Streatham attack victim no longer in a 'life-threatening condition' – as it happened. en-GB. The Guardian. 2021-06-24. 0261-3077.
  15. Web site: European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend report 2021 (TESAT). 2021-06-23. Europol. 7, 42–46. en.
  16. News: Oltermann. Philip. 20 February 2020. Hanau shooting: 11 dead after attacks on shisha bars in German town. en-GB. The Guardian. 20 February 2020. 0261-3077.
  17. Web site: Mehrere Menschen sterben durch Schüsse in Hanau – DER SPIEGEL – Panorama. 19 February 2020. www.spiegel.de. de.
  18. Web site: Mehrere Menschen im hessischen Hanau erschossen – Täter möglicherweise flüchtig . dw.com . . 19 February 2020.
  19. Web site: POL-OF: Großfahndung der Polizei in Hanau. presseportal.de. de. 19 February 2020.
  20. News: Hanau shooting: Eight dead after two attacks in Germany . BBC News . 19 February 2020 . 19 February 2020.
  21. Web site: Eleven dead, including suspect, after Hanau attacks – as it happened. theguardian.com. en. 19 February 2020.
  22. Web site: February 21, 2020. Opfer des Anschlags: Neun junge Hanauer, mitten aus dem Leben gerissen. https://web.archive.org/web/20200222205315/https://www.hessenschau.de/gesellschaft/opfer-des-anschlags-neun-junge-hanauer-mitten-aus-dem-leben-gerissen,opfer-hanau-anschlag-100.html. dead. February 22, 2020. hessenschau.de.
  23. News: 20 February 2020. Germany's Immigrant Community in Hanau Reeling After Attack. The New York Times.
  24. News: Stabbing attack at North York massage parlour was 'incel' terrorism, police say. 24 February 2020 . 20 May 2020 . The Star.
  25. News: Afghanistan: Gunmen kill 32 in Kabul attack. 2 February 2020 . 6 March 2020. Deutsche Welle.
  26. News: Gunmen in Afghanistan kill 25 at Sikh complex, Islamic State claims responsibility . 25 March 2020 . Reuters . 25 March 2020.
  27. Web site: At least 46 dead in northern Syria blast. April 29, 2020. Gulf-Times.
  28. Web site: Bomb blast kills at least 46 civilians in Syria's Afrin. SBS News.
  29. News: Reading stabbings: Khairi Saadallah jailed for park murders. BBC News. 11 January 2021. 2021-01-11. en.
  30. News: 2021-01-11. Libyan jailed for life for UK attack that killed three. en. Reuters. 2021-01-11.
  31. Web site: Pakistan stock exchange in Karachi under attack, say police. 2020-06-29. The National. 29 June 2020 . en.
  32. News: Gunmen attack Karachi stock exchange building in Pakistan . 29 June 2020 . www.aljazeera.com.
  33. News: 'All terrorists killed,' police say after Pakistan Stock Exchange comes under gun and grenade attack . 29 June 2020 . www.geo.tv.
  34. News: Saifi. Sophia. Multiple people dead after attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange. CNN. 29 June 2020.
  35. News: Ukraine siege ends after president's bizarre video. BBC News. 21 July 2020.
  36. News: 2020-08-03. Islamic State group claims deadly attack on Afghanistan prison. en-GB. BBC News. 2020-12-26.
  37. Web site: 2020-08-02. Islamic State group claims responsibility for deadly prison attack in Afghanistan. 2020-12-26. France 24. en.
  38. Web site: 2020-08-06. Security Council condemns 'heinous and cowardly' terrorist attack in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. 2020-12-26. UN News. en.
  39. News: Petty . Martin . (ed.) Davies . Ed . (ed.) Richardson . Alex . Twin bombings kill 15, wound scores in Philippine south . November 8, 2020 . . August 24, 2020.
  40. News: 14 killed in Jolo twin bombings in southern Philippines . August 24, 2020 . November 8, 2020 . Al Jazeera English.
  41. News: Jolo back to normal, but braces for terrorist attacks, says mayor. en. Manila Standard. 2020-12-26.
  42. News: 2020-09-26. Charlie Hebdo: Stabbings suspect 'was trying to target magazine'. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-06-23.
  43. Web site: 2020-10-21. Germany: Dresden knife attack likely motivated by Islamic extremism DW 21.10.2020. 2021-06-23. Deutsche Welle. en-GB.
  44. Web site: Police Say Attack on Gov't Headquarters Has Elements of Terrorist Act. 2020-10-22. Total Croatia News. 18 October 2020 .
  45. News: 2020-10-17. Macron calls Paris beheading 'Islamist terrorist attack'. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-06-23.
  46. Web site: Turkish police detain five people over alleged involvement in suicide bombing in Hatay. 2020-10-30. www.duvarenglish.com. 29 October 2020. en-GB.
  47. Web site: Ajansı. İlke Haber. Huge explosion takes place in Turkey's southern city of Hatay. 2020-10-30. İLKHA. tr-TR.
  48. Web site: Explosion in Hatay province. 2020-10-30. Bianet – Bagimsiz Iletisim Agi.
  49. Web site: Turkey: Explosion in downtown Iskenderun. 2020-10-30. iranpress.com. en.
  50. Web site: Son dakika! Hatay'ın İskenderun ilçesinde patlama. 2020-10-30. CNN Türk. 27 October 2020 . tr.
  51. Web site: 'PKK suicide bombing' in southern Turkey. 2020-11-20. The National. 27 October 2020 . en.
  52. News: 2020-10-27. Pakistan blast: At least four dead in Peshawar school attack. en-GB. BBC News. 2020-10-27.
  53. Web site: Bomb at seminary in Pakistan kills 8 students, wounds 136. AP. 27 October 2020.
  54. Web site: 2020-10-30. France on maximum alert after deadly church stabbing in Nice. 2021-06-23. France 24. en.
  55. Web site: Gunmen Storm Kabul University; 20 Killed. 2020-12-26. TOLOnews. en.
  56. News: 2020-11-03. Vienna shooting: Austria hunts suspects after 'Islamist terror' attack. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-06-23.
  57. Web site: 2020-11-29. Northeast Nigeria attack claimed at least 110 lives: UN. 2020-11-30. The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. en-US.
  58. Web site: 2020-11-29. Boko Haram Slaughters 43 Farmers in Borno, Destroys Rice Farms. 2020-11-30. This Day Live. en-US.
  59. Web site: 2020-11-29. Majalisar Ɗinkin Duniya ta ce mutum 110 aka kashe a Borno. 2020-11-30. BBC News Hausa. ha.
  60. 1333056915690151937. AFP.
    1. BREAKING At least 110 civilians...
    . 29 November 2020.
  61. News: 2020-11-28. Au moins 110 civils tués dans une attaque au Nigeria. fr. Le Monde.fr. 2020-11-30.
  62. Web site: Chioma. Unini. 2020-12-01. Zabarmari: Why we killed 78 rice farmers in Borno – Shekau. 2020-12-26. TheNigeriaLawyer. en-US.
  63. 1333752803932725250. bulamabukarti. The Shekau faction of Boko Haram.... 1 December 2020.
  64. Web site: Civilians flee Ain Issa, northeast Syria as clashes escalate . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230604215737/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/27/civilians-flee-ain-issa-ne-syria-as-clashes-escalate . 2023-06-04 . live .
  65. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-12/10/c_139580072.htm
  66. News: Investigators are looking at 'any and all possible motives' after identifying Nashville bomber . Hollie . Silverman . Eric . Levenson . Amir . Vera . December 29, 2020 . CNN.
  67. Web site: Kruesi. Kimberlee. Balsamo. Michael. Tucker. Eric. 2020-12-25. Human remains found near downtown Nashville explosion, police say. 2020-12-26. ABC7 Los Angeles. en.
  68. Web site: 2020-12-25. Huge explosion in downtown Nashville 'after parked vehicle blew up'. 2020-12-26. The Independent. en.
  69. Web site: Andone. Dakin. Silverman. Hollie. Almasy. Steve. Possible human remains found near Nashville explosion site, police chief says. 2020-12-26. CNN.
  70. Web site: Here's what we know about the Nashville Christmas Day explosion . 2020-12-27 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327233327/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/27/us/nashville-explosion-what-we-know/index.html . 2023-03-27 . live .
  71. https://torontosun.com/news/world/nashville-bomber-feared-lizard-people-conspiracy-hunted-aliens-report
  72. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/mali-3-french-soldiers-killed-by-explosive-device/2091542
  73. Web site: At least 22 dead amid blast and gunfire at Yemen airport after Government plane lands. . 30 December 2020.
  74. Web site: Yemeni officials: Blast at Aden airport kills 25, wounds 110. 30 December 2020.
  75. Web site: Yemen's PM condemns 'treacherous, cowardly' Aden airport attack. 30 December 2020 .