Link between terrorism and domestic violence could help prevent homicide

By Hayley Gleeson

Topic: Domestic Violence

Monday, 25 May 2026 at 5:00am

The man who attacked the Sydney Lindt Cafe in 2014 had been charged with planning his ex-wife's murder and had a history of violence against women.

There are similarities between lone-actor terrorism, mass shootings, and intimate partner homicides. Many attacks are planned ahead of time. Most are done by men. Many of the people who do these crimes have a history of violence against women.

Some people who do these violent acts are motivated by feelings of injustice or loss. They think they are victims.

Australia has special teams to monitor and manage people who might become lone-actor terrorists or stalk public figures.

Now, a new project wants to use similar strategies to prevent domestic violence and family homicides.

The Fixated Grievance Perpetrator Intervention Pilot brings together experts in psychology, psychiatry, criminology, and policing. They want to design a team that can identify and help people who might become violent due to a grievance against a partner or family member.

The project has $21.8 million in funding and will be tested in two states. If it works, it could change how communities understand and respond to dangerous abusers.

A catalyst for extreme violence

Chief investigator Troy McEwan says the project is at the forefront of research. A 2022 study found that 20 out of 38 fatal family violence cases were motivated by a sense of grievance.

These people feel they have been wronged and are owed something by their partner or society. When this feeling combines with other factors, it can lead to extreme violence.

The idea for the project came after a series of homicides of women and children in 2024. The government wants to find new ways to identify high-risk perpetrators and stop violence early.

Professor Troy McEwan is the chief investigator of the Fixated Grievance Perpetrator Intervention Pilot.

Research has found that lone-actor terrorists and mass killers are often motivated by personal grievances. Many of these offenders have a history of domestic violence and misogynistic attitudes towards women.

One challenge is that these perpetrators are often only recognized after a homicide. Many have not had contact with the police or justice system before, but may have interacted with other services like doctors or mental health practitioners.

The project team wants to define the characteristics and behaviors of these perpetrators. They are looking for red flags like a sense of hopelessness, which can lead to an escalation of violence.

Red flags, tight timelines

The team is studying cases like that of Kelly Thompson, who was stabbed to death by her ex-partner. The escalation of violence happened over a short period, and the perpetrator was grappling with significant life changes.

The new project could change how family violence is dealt with and save lives, says Dr. Emily Corner.

A familiar perpetrator

Dale Wakefield, chief executive of GenWest, is familiar with the type of perpetrator the pilot is targeting. Their grievance is often triggered by a relationship breakdown, and their behavior can become unpredictable.

The family violence workforce is stretched, and any tool that can help practitioners assess risk is helpful. The project team is excited about the collaboration across different disciplines and the significant funding from the government.

Monday, 25 May 2026 at 5:00am

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