Domestic terrorism remains a persistent U.S. threat shaped by ideology, demographics, and shifting tactics. Across the page, you’ll see how attacks and plots vary by extremist type, who is affected, and what changed over time—from deadly incidents to disrupted high-threat plots. The discussion also covers the investigation and prevention landscape, including rising case volumes and major government initiatives that shape how risk is assessed.
Key Takeaways
- Between 2010 and 2020, domestic terrorists used firearms in 57% of 300+ incidents
- From 1994-2020, domestic terrorism attacks and plots killed 107 people
- In 2022, domestic extremists murdered 25 people, the highest since 1995
- In 2022, there were 210 documented incidents of domestic terrorism in the United States, primarily driven by far-right extremists
- From 1994 to 2021, right-wing extremists were responsible for 448 attacks and plots out of 893 total domestic terrorist incidents in the US
- In 2020, domestic violent extremists conducted 73 attacks and plots, marking a 250% increase from the average annual number between 2010 and 2019
- 75% of domestic terrorists arrested from 2010-2020 were right-wing, totaling 335 individuals
- From 1994-2020, perpetrators of domestic attacks were 49% right-wing, 25% left-wing, 20% jihadist
- 90% of domestic terrorists arrested in 2021 were white males
- FBI disrupted 28 high-threat plots in 2022
- From 2010-2022, 475 domestic terror arrests by FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces
- DHS allocated $100 million for CVE programs 2021-2023 targeting domestic terror
- Domestic terrorism investigations rose 357% from FY2013 to FY2021
- Right-wing plots increased 400% from 2016 to 2020
- Lethality of attacks rose 20% annually 2010-2022 for far-right
Domestic terrorism rose sharply, driven mainly by far right attackers using firearms and causing increasing deaths.
Related reading
01 · Category
Casualties27 stats
01
Between 2010 and 2020, domestic terrorists used firearms in 57% of 300+ incidents
02
From 1994-2020, domestic terrorism attacks and plots killed 107 people
03
In 2022, domestic extremists murdered 25 people, the highest since 1995
04
Right-wing extremists caused 91 fatalities from 2015-2020
05
The 2019 El Paso shooting by a domestic terrorist killed 23
06
From 2009-2021, 444 deaths from domestic extremist murders
07
In 2020, 16 deaths from far-right domestic terrorism
08
Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in 2018 killed 11 by domestic antisemite
09
Buffalo supermarket shooting in 2022 killed 10 Black victims
10
From 2010-2022, 335 injuries from far-right attacks
11
2021 saw 18 fatalities from racially motivated domestic violence
12
Tree of Life attack injured 6 besides deaths
13
In 2017, 7 deaths from domestic Islamist extremists
14
Poway synagogue shooting killed 1, injured 3 in 2019
15
From 1990-2022, GTD records 3,086 fatalities from US domestic terrorism
16
2022 Waukesha parade attack by domestic terrorist killed 6, injured 62
17
Charlottesville 2017 Unite the Right rally killed 1, injured 35
18
In 2020, 2 deaths from antifa-linked violence
19
El Paso Walmart attack injured 23 survivors
20
From 2015-2021, 45% of extremist fatalities were law enforcement
21
2015 San Bernardino attack by domestic radicals killed 14, injured 22
22
2023 Allen, TX mall shooting by neo-Nazi killed 8, injured 7
23
Pulse nightclub shooting 2016 killed 49, injured 53 by domestic jihadist
24
From 2001-2020, 112 deaths from right-wing domestic terrorism
25
In 2019, 42 deaths total from domestic extremism
26
Portland protests 2020 saw 1 death, 100+ injuries from domestic clashes
27
From 1994-2021, 75% of domestic terror fatalities by right-wing actors
Interpretation
Casualties Interpretation
For the Casualties category, the data show that domestic terrorism repeatedly translates into deadly outcomes, with 107 people killed from 1994 to 2020 and a particularly sharp recent toll where 25 people were murdered in 2022 and 91 fatalities were linked to right wing extremists from 2015 to 2020.
02 · Category
Incidents30 stats
01
In 2022, there were 210 documented incidents of domestic terrorism in the United States, primarily driven by far-right extremists
02
From 1994 to 2021, right-wing extremists were responsible for 448 attacks and plots out of 893 total domestic terrorist incidents in the US
03
In 2020, domestic violent extremists conducted 73 attacks and plots, marking a 250% increase from the average annual number between 2010 and 2019
04
Between January 1 and September 30, 2020, far-right extremists perpetrated 66% of all terrorist attacks and plots in the US
05
In 2019, there were 38 domestic terrorism incidents linked to white supremacists in the US
06
From 2009 to 2022, there have been over 450 domestic terrorist incidents attributed to far-right ideologies
07
In fiscal year 2021, the FBI opened 9,049 domestic terrorism investigations
08
Michigan recorded 25 domestic terrorism-related incidents in 2022, the highest among states
09
Salafi-jihadist domestic plots accounted for 15 incidents from 2010-2020
10
Antifascist extremists (anarchists) conducted 7 attacks in 2020
11
In 2021, 77% of extremist-related murders were committed by domestic terrorists, totaling 35 incidents
12
Texas saw 18 far-right domestic terrorism incidents in 2021
13
From 2015-2022, racially motivated violent extremists conducted 42 attacks
14
In 2018, there were 50 domestic terrorism plots foiled by law enforcement
15
California experienced 22 domestic extremist incidents in 2020
16
Militia extremists plotted 12 attacks in 2022
17
From 1990-2020, the Global Terrorism Database recorded 2,156 domestic terrorist incidents in the US
18
In 2023 Q1, 15 domestic terrorism incidents were linked to election-related violence
19
Ethnonationalist incidents numbered 8 in 2021
20
New York had 19 incidents in 2022 from various domestic groups
21
In 2017, 42% of incidents were right-wing motivated, totaling 31 events
22
LGBTQ+-targeted domestic terrorism incidents reached 5 in 2022
23
From 2016-2020, 110 vehicle-ramming attacks by domestic terrorists
24
Florida recorded 16 incidents in 2021
25
In 2020, 23 incidents involved improvised explosive devices by domestic actors
26
Pennsylvania had 14 militia-related incidents in 2022
27
From 2001-2021, 267 incidents by lone actors domestically
28
In 2019, 28 arson attacks classified as domestic terrorism
29
Ohio saw 12 incidents in 2020
30
2021 saw 45 far-left incidents amid protests
Interpretation
Incidents Interpretation
For the “Incidents” category, the data shows that domestic terrorism in the United States is heavily concentrated in far right and related ideologies, with right wing extremists responsible for 448 attacks and plots out of 893 total incidents from 1994 to 2021 and accounting for 66% of terrorist attacks and plots between January 1 and September 30, 2020.
03 · Category
Perpetrators28 stats
01
75% of domestic terrorists arrested from 2010-2020 were right-wing, totaling 335 individuals
02
From 1994-2020, perpetrators of domestic attacks were 49% right-wing, 25% left-wing, 20% jihadist
03
90% of domestic terrorists arrested in 2021 were white males
04
Average age of domestic terrorists arrested 2008-2021 is 36 years old
05
57% of domestic plots 1994-2020 by lone actors
06
Militia Violent Extremists numbered 52 arrests in 2020
07
From 2010-2022, 267 domestic terrorists were US military veterans
08
78% of far-right domestic terrorists are US-born citizens
09
In 2022, 42% of perpetrators were under 30 years old
10
Racially Motivated Violent Extremists (RMVEs) accounted for 62 arrests in FY2021
11
65% of domestic jihadist plotters had prior criminal records
12
Sovereign citizen movement had 38 identified perpetrators in 2021
13
23% of domestic terrorists were women from 2015-2022
14
White supremacist groups like Atomwaffen Division recruited 50+ members 2015-2020
15
In 2020, 15 anarchist perpetrators arrested for riots
16
80% of militia extremists are male, average age 42
17
From 2009-2022, 120 domestic terrorists convicted of murder
18
45% of perpetrators radicalized online via social media
19
Boogaloo Bois movement had 25 arrests in 2020
20
67% of right-wing domestic terrorists from suburbs
21
In 2023, 18 Proud Boys members convicted post-Jan 6
22
Antifa identifiers included 12 violent actors in 2021 Portland
23
From 2016-2022, 89% of mass shooters linked to extremism were domestic terrorists
24
Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes sentenced, group had 30+ charged
25
55% of domestic jihadists converted to Islam post-18
26
In 2022, 28 QAnon adherents arrested for threats
27
From FY2010-FY2020, 4,000+ domestic terrorism subjects investigated by FBI
28
73% of domestic terror convicts sentenced 10+ years
Interpretation
Perpetrators Interpretation
Across the Perpetrators data, right wing ideology dominates, with 75% of arrests from 2010 to 2020 totaling 335 individuals and 49% of domestic attack perpetrators from 1994 to 2020, while a striking 57% of plots in that earlier period were carried out by lone actors.
More related reading
04 · Category
Response22 stats
01
FBI disrupted 28 high-threat plots in 2022
02
From 2010-2022, 475 domestic terror arrests by FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces
03
DHS allocated $100 million for CVE programs 2021-2023 targeting domestic terror
04
2021 National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism established fusion centers monitoring
05
Over 1,000 Jan 6 domestic terrorists charged by DOJ as of 2023
06
FBI's 9,000+ DT investigations in 2021 led to 250 disruptions
07
GAO recommended improved info sharing in 2022, implemented in 75% of agencies
08
2022 saw 150+ state-level domestic terror laws enacted
09
Tech firms removed 10 million extremist posts 2020-2022
10
NCTC tracks 2,000+ domestic subjects
11
$220 million congressional funding for domestic terror prevention in FY2023
12
85% conviction rate for federal domestic terror cases 2018-2022
13
Local police disrupted 40 plots via fusion centers 2021-2022
14
CVE grants awarded to 30 communities for deradicalization
15
FBI tips line received 50,000+ domestic terror reports 2022
16
Enhanced screening prevented 15 attacks in 2022 airports
17
INTERPOL assisted in 20 US domestic terror extraditions 2015-2022
18
2023 NDAA mandates annual domestic terror reports
19
500+ law enforcement trained in domestic terror recognition 2022
20
Social media monitoring flagged 5,000 threats preemptively 2022
21
State fusion centers processed 1 million tips on domestic terror 2021
22
DOJ's 100+ Jan 6 prosecutors secured 700+ guilty pleas
Interpretation
Response Interpretation
The response landscape shows a sustained ramp-up, with the FBI disrupting 28 high-threat plots in 2022 and generating 250 disruptions from 9,000-plus domestic terror investigations in 2021, while DOJ had charged over 1,000 Jan 6-related domestic terrorists by 2023.
05 · Category
Trends25 stats
01
Domestic terrorism investigations rose 357% from FY2013 to FY2021
02
Right-wing plots increased 400% from 2016 to 2020
03
Lethality of attacks rose 20% annually 2010-2022 for far-right
04
Domestic terrorism incidents spiked 300% post-2020 election
05
Online radicalization cases tripled from 2015-2022
06
Far-left violence peaked in 2020 with 25% of total incidents
07
RMVE threats grew 250% since 2016 per DHS assessments
08
Post-Jan 6, militia plots increased 150%
09
Jihadist domestic plots declined 80% post-2016
10
Vehicle ramming attacks up 500% 2016-2022
11
Extremist murders highest in 25 years in 2022
12
Social media mentions of terror terms up 600% 2020-2023
13
Lone actor attacks now 60% of total, up from 40% in 2000s
14
Anti-government sentiment plots doubled post-COVID
15
White supremacist propaganda distributed tripled 2017-2022
16
Domestic incidents shifted 70% to online planning 2018-2022
17
Election-related threats rose 300% in 2022 midterms
18
Arson as tactic increased 40% in protests 2020
19
Youth radicalization under 25 up 50% 2019-2023
20
Cross-ideology alliances seen in 15% of 2022 plots
21
Firearms usage in attacks steady at 55%, bombs down 30%
22
Domestic terror financing via crypto up 200% 2021-2023
23
Geopolitical events correlate with 25% incident spikes
24
Hate crimes overlapping terror up 45% 2016-2022
25
FY2022 saw 2,700 open domestic terror cases, up 25%
Interpretation
Trends Interpretation
From the Trends perspective, the data show a sharp escalation in domestic terrorism, with right wing plots rising 400% from 2016 to 2020 and incidents spiking 300% after the 2020 election.
report visual · Key figures
Domestic terrorism: firearms and lethal impact
Across 2010–2020, firearms were used in the majority of domestic terrorism incidents, while fatalities remain substantial across the period and spike in recent years.
57%
Between 2010 and 2020, domestic terrorists used firearms in 57% of 300+ incidents
107
From 1994-2020, domestic terrorism attacks and plots killed 107 people
25
In 2022, domestic extremists murdered 25 people, the highest since 1995
91
Right-wing extremists caused 91 fatalities from 2015-2020
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Domestic Terrorism Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/domestic-terrorism-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Domestic Terrorism Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/domestic-terrorism-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Domestic Terrorism Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/domestic-terrorism-statistics.
Sources & references
19 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level