Festive Crowds, Enduring Terror Risks Worldwide
From 2020 through 2025, global terrorism has repeatedly demonstrated that periods of celebration whether religious holidays, New Year’s festivities, or crowded cultural events remain attractive targets for violent actors seeking maximum psychological impact. Indeed, the strategic logic of terrorism increasingly exploits not only symbolic dates but also high-density public spaces where disruption can amplify fear far beyond the immediate victims. This evolving threat environment holds stark lessons for nations like Malaysia, which must balance open civic life with the imperative of public safety. A series of high-profile incidents highlights the ongoing and varied nature of the threat. In late 2025, an attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach left at least 16 people dead and many others injured, showing how violence can reach even public, family-oriented events despite prior security warnings that proved insufficient. Earlier in 2025, American authorities were conf...