wrongful detention
Iraq
On 31 March, the paramilitary group Kata’ib Hezbollah abducted a US journalist outside a hotel in Baghdad. Powerful Shi’a militias such as Kata’ib Hezbollah often operate as de facto security actors across parts of Iraq, aligned with both the Iraqi state and Iran, and receive significant financial and military backing from the latter. The group accused the journalist of collecting sensitive information about them; however, the incident came amid high US-Iran tensions, and Kata’ib Hezbollah likely intended to use the victim to negotiate for the reduction of US-Israeli airstrikes against Iranian-backed groups in Iraq. The journalist was released a week later following a prisoner exchange agreement with the Iraqi government. Western nationals in Iraq will continue to face elevated risks of detention and kidnapping by such groups over the coming months amid ongoing regional tensions.
active assailant
United States
On 7 June, an assailant armed with a knife attacked commuters in the New Jersey transit area at Penn Station, New York City, injuring six people. At least one victim sustained serious injuries, while five were hospitalised due to injuries. Authorities apprehended the assailant at the scene, and the motive for the attack remains unclear. The incident occurred less than 24 hours before New York City hosted the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals at Madison Square Garden – located near Penn Station – with President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in attendance, although authorities do not believe the events to be linked. Armed assailant attacks remain a significant safety concern at high-profile events in the US.
active assailant
Mexico
On 20 April, an assailant opened fire on tourists at the Teotihuacán pyramids in the State of Mexico, killing a Canadian tourist and injuring 13 others, including Russian, Colombian, and Brazilian nationals, before killing himself. Authorities confirmed that the attacker acted alone and had no apparent links to organised criminal groups. While Mexico's security environment is heavily influenced by organised crime, lone-actor mass shootings are comparatively rare.
Extortion
South Africa
On 28 May, unidentified assailants detonated a small improvised explosive at an outlet of a major local retail company in Tshwane, Gauteng Province, at around 01h00 local time. The following day, a similar attack took place at an outlet in Bloemfontein, in the Free State Province. While both explosives damaged property at the targeted locations, neither resulted in casualties. Investigations to determine the motive and possible links between the incidents remain ongoing. However, the attacks reportedly bear similarities to a 2018 series of extortion-driven explosive attacks targeting major retailers across Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province. While extortion remains prevalent in the construction, hospitality, transport and mining sectors in South Africa, criminal groups have extended their reach to other sectors in recent years, particularly retail, education and public utilities.
kidnapping
South Africa
In late March, Steven Gruzd, a prominent member of South Africa’s Jewish community, was killed during an express kidnapping in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. The case reflects a growing trend of express kidnappings, primarily in Johannesburg and other urban centres such as Durban, often occurring in the context of hijackings and robberies. These incidents are viewed by criminals as a lower-risk alternative to traditional ransom kidnappings, which involve holding victims for days, and increase the likelihood of detection. Authorities have expressed some concern that members of the Jewish community may be specifically targeted, with 15 incidents reported across the country over the past year.
Kidnap for ransom
France
On 20 May, six assailants attempted to kidnap the wife of a prominent blockchain gaming and cryptocurrency investor in Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France. One assailant, posing as a delivery worker, gained access to the victim’s property after the victim opened the gate, after which five masked individuals attempted to force her into a vehicle. The attempt was disrupted when neighbours intervened, prompting four of the assailants to flee; two were later arrested after failing to escape. Cryptocurrency-linked kidnappings have remained a persistent issue in France in recent years, despite authorities introducing a range of preventative measures; 134 attempted and successful cases were recorded since 2023, including 40 in 2026 alone.
extortion
Bangladesh
In June 2026, Transparency International reported that extortion and other forms of violent crime remain a significant issue in Bangladesh. While recent figures are unavailable, at least 70 extortion cases were reported every month in Dhaka in the first six months of 2025, compared to a total of 59 for the whole of 2022. Targets include small and large local businesses, as well as prominent public figures. Payments can reach up to several hundred thousand USD. Incidents are often politically motivated; many perpetrators have connections to political parties like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and student groups that led the uprising against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Incidents involve physical harassment, business disruptions, or the publicisation of fabricated links between the victim and Hasina’s Awami League party.
Australia
organised crime
Since April 2026, unidentified assailants have carried out a series of arson attacks and other criminal incidents targeting restaurants, bars, and a liquor storage warehouse in Melbourne. The attacks caused significant damage, with three incidents collectively responsible for around AUD 1.1 million (USD 771,000) in property damage. Some victims received demands for payments and threats of further attacks through a messaging application. Victoria Police, who established Operation Eclipse to investigate the incidents, have arrested dozens of people. Authorities suspect the incidents are linked to wider organised criminal activity in the city, with young perpetrators likely recruited to carry out attacks.
