Fact check: Who is responsible for more domestic terrorism, right wing or left wing?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided suggest that right-wing extremists pose a significant threat to domestic terrorism ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}. According to ^[1], right-wing attacks 'outpace' those by left, citing a removed DOJ study and other research. Additionally, ^[2] provides an in-depth analysis of the terrorism problem in the United States, concluding that right-wing extremists pose the most significant terrorism threat. Furthermore, ^[3] suggests that right-wing extremist terrorism has increased in the United States since the mid-2000s, with the past six years seeing the sharpest rise yet, and that white supremacists were responsible for more attacks than any other type of right-wing extremist in the past six years. However, it is essential to note that not all sources provide direct evidence to support the claim of who is responsible for more domestic terrorism ^{[5] [6] [7]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources do not provide specific information on who is responsible for more domestic terrorism, right wing or left wing ^{[5] [6] [7]}. For instance, ^[5] only provides context on the comparison of political violence by left-wing, right-wing, and Islamist extremists in the United States and worldwide. Moreover, ^[6] defines domestic terrorism and discusses the FBI's role in investigating and preventing it, but does not provide specific information on who is responsible for more domestic terrorism. Alternative viewpoints, such as the comparison of the use of political violence by left-wing, right-wing, and Islamist extremists, suggest that radical acts perpetrated by individuals associated with left-wing causes are less likely to be violent ^[5]. Additionally, some sources report that domestic terrorism incidents are on the rise, with 231 incidents between 2010 and 2021, and that the largest category of incidents (about 35%) were racially- or ethnically-motivated, but do not specify whether right wing or left wing is more responsible ^[8].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be biased towards implying that one side is more responsible for domestic terrorism than the other, without considering the complexity of the issue. The sources that suggest right-wing extremists pose a significant threat to domestic terrorism ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} may benefit right-wing extremist watchdog groups and counter-terrorism organizations. On the other hand, sources that do not provide specific information on who is responsible for more domestic terrorism ^{[5] [6] [7]} may benefit organizations that aim to promote a more nuanced understanding of domestic terrorism. Furthermore, sources that compare the use of political violence by left-wing, right-wing, and Islamist extremists ^[5] may benefit research institutions that focus on political violence. Ultimately, it is crucial to consider multiple viewpoints and sources when assessing the complex issue of domestic terrorism ^{[5] [8]}.