“Maybe We Should Just Kill Them All”: Leakings of Lone and Group Perpetrators Prior to Right-Wing Terrorist Attacks

This article presents findings on the occurrence and characteristics of so-called leaking in the lead-up to right-wing terrorist attacks in Germany between 2001 and 2019. The study draws on extensive analyses of judicial files from 17 cases of right-wing offenses, involving 44 perpetrators who collectively displayed 85 instances of leaking. Leaking is understood as statements or behaviors through which perpetrators announce or hint at their planned attack prior to carrying them out. Identifying such signals can be crucial for prevention and protective interventions against terrorism. The study investigates the frequency and nature of leaking, the intended recipients, the communication channels used, the witnesses involved, the trajectories of leaking behavior, and the responses it elicited. Additionally, it explores commonalities and differences between leakings by group-affiliated and lone actors.