Fact check: Who engages in political attacks more right wing extremists or left wing extremists

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided suggest that right-wing extremists are more likely to engage in violent acts, especially in the United States ^[1]. According to one source, right-wing terrorists account for over half of the murders in terrorist attacks on US soil since 2020, while left-wing terrorists account for 22% of those murders ^[2]. Another source states that right-wing extremists pose the most significant terrorism threat to the United States, based on annual terrorist events and fatalities ^[3]. Similarly, a source from the third set of analyses notes that right-wing attacks and plots accounted for the majority of all terrorist incidents in the United States since 1994 ^[3]. However, some sources do not provide conclusive evidence to support the claim that one side engages in political attacks more than the other, instead highlighting the complexity of the issue and the need to consider various factors contributing to political violence ^{[4] [5] [6]}. Key points to consider are the historical context of political violence, socioeconomic trends, and the role of social media and polarization.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources do not provide direct comparisons of the frequency of political attacks by right-wing and left-wing extremists ^{[7] [8]}. Additionally, the analyses often focus on the United States, with limited information on the global context of political violence. Alternative viewpoints, such as the role of ideology and socioeconomic factors, are mentioned but not fully explored ^[5]. The sources also highlight the importance of considering the perception of political violence as a problem, with a majority of adults believing that harsh political rhetoric is contributing to violence ^[6]. Further research is needed to fully understand the complexities of political violence and the relative frequencies of attacks by different extremist groups. It is also essential to consider the historical context of political violence, including the systematic ethnic cleansing of Native Americans and the Civil War ^[5].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be biased towards implying a simplistic binary opposition between right-wing and left-wing extremists, when in fact the issue of political violence is complex and multifaceted ^[4]. The sources suggest that both ideological and socioeconomic trends contribute to the rise in violence, and that the perception of political violence as a problem is widespread ^[6]. Right-wing extremists may benefit from the lack of attention to their violent acts, while left-wing extremists may be more likely to be labeled as terrorists ^[2]. On the other hand, left-wing extremists may benefit from the lack of attention to their violent acts, while right-wing extremists may be more likely to be labeled as terrorists ^[1]. It is crucial to approach this topic with a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved and to avoid simplistic or biased framing ^[3].