EU terror attacks reach record high in 2015, Europol says

EU law enforcement agency Europol has released a report which stated that there has been a record number of terrorist attacks planned, foiled or carried out in EU countries in 2015. The agency also confirmed that the UK has reported the highest number of attacks (103), with most coming from Northern Ireland. In total, there were 211 attacks in 2015, the highest since records began in 2006. Terrorist attacks which had failed, been foiled or were completed took place in six EU member states, including Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and the UK. France had the second highest number of terrorist attacks (72), with Spain following, reporting 25. Data from Europol’s EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report showed that 687 people were arrested for jihadist terrorism, and 94 per cent of the arrested suspects were found guilty. Furthermore, figures showed that all together, 151 people died as a result of terrorist incidents and 360 were injured. In its report, Europol said: "As in previous years, the attacks specifically classified as separatist terrorism accounted for the largest proportion, followed by jihadist attacks. “The overall threat is reinforced by the substantial numbers of returned foreign terrorist fighters that many member states now have on their soil, and the significant rise in nationalist (xenophobic), racist and anti-Semitic sentiments across the EU, each resulting in acts of right-wing extremism."