The term “lone wolf” has become part of our common vocabulary, as the terror threat has evolved from large-scale attacks to individuals seemingly radicalized in relative isolation. But, a new report claims that the lone wolf typology is highly misleading and can even be counterproductive in the fight against terror.

There have been dozens of attacks across the globe in recent years, carried out by individuals. They include: the March 2017 Islamist-inspired vehicle and knife attack on Westminster Bridge in London; three months later, a far-right supporter drove his van into worshippers outside a mosque in the same city; in October 2017, Stephen Paddock opened fire on crowds at a Las Vegas music festival, killing 58 people; weeks later, a man drove his van into cyclists in New York, killing eight people.

These are just examples of the higher profile attacks that have come to define the modern security environment…