The number of terrorist attacks worldwide fell in 2016 and the number of deaths also declined, in spite of an increase in attacks by Islamic State in Iraq, a State Department report said on Wednesday.
“The number of attacks fell 9 per cent worldwide to 11,072 attacks, resulting in 25,621 deaths, a 13 per cent decline in fatalities,’’ the State Department’s annual report on terrorism said.
The decline was largely a result of fewer attacks in Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan and Yemen.
Attacks increased in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan and Turkey.
In spite of the drop in attacks in Afghanistan, it remained the country with the second-highest number of attacks (1,340) behind Iraq with 2,965 attacks.
India, Pakistan and the Philippines were also among the top five.
Islamic State was responsible for more attacks than any other group, and carried out 20 per cent more attacks in Iraq than in the previous year. (dpa/NAN)