Recent years have seen a surge in terrorist attacks using vehicles in European countries, highlighting a serious threat to public spaces. Since 2014, vehicle-ramming attacks have killed at least 130 people in Europe. Renting and stealing are reportedly the most prevalent approaches used by terrorists in this type of attack. In this context, the European Union aims to effectively support Member States in implementing measures to prevent and mitigate the impact of vehicular attacks.

Last year, the European Commission’s Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs contracted RAND Europe to conduct a study on measures to prevent terrorist attacks with vehicles and mitigate the impact thereof, with a focus on the car rental and car sharing industries. The objective of this study is to enhance understanding of the use of vehicles in terrorist attacks and on existing measures and associated challenges in order to provide concrete recommendations for the Commission to support the future prevention of the use of rented or shared vehicles by terrorist groups.

The study is being finalised this month and will be presented to interested stakeholders on 13 April at 13h30, on an invitation basis only. If you wish to receive an invitation to this presentation, please let us know at HOME-D2-PROTECT@ec.europa.eu.