Terrorism

The fight against terrorism constitutes a strategic priority for the Office of the Attorney general of Switzerland (OAG). As the competent authority for criminal prosecutions at the federal level, the OAG acts to prevent, investigate, and sanction terrorist acts threatening the country’s security. The Terrorism field of crime is responsible for handling the most sensitive and complex cases in this area.

In accordance with Art. 24 para. 1 CrimPC, Art. 74 para. 6 IntelSA, and Art. 2 Hamas Act, the OAG is competent to prosecute offenses such as participation in a terrorist organization, terrorist financing, propaganda, or recruitment for terrorist purposes. Some cases also involve the planning of attacks or the departure and return of individuals who have joined terrorist groups abroad.

The number of open criminal proceedings, already high for several years, continues to increase, demonstrating that the threat posed by jihadist-motivated terrorism remains very present in Switzerland. This reality requires constant vigilance and a coordinated approach.

In this context, the OAG collaborates closely with its national partners—particularly fedpol and the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS)—as well as with international institutions such as Europol and Eurojust. This cooperation is essential to ensure an effective criminal justice response to a phenomenon that is often transnational.

To address the growing complexity of these cases, the OAG continually strengthens its operational synergies and ensures the rigorous application of the law, in compliance with the fundamental principles of the rule of law.