Half of planned European terror attacks mostly linked to Northern Ireland

There were 211 “failed, foiled or completed” terrorist strikes reported by six member states – with the highest number logged by the UK, according to Europol.

Some 151 people died and more than 360 were injured as a result of terrorism – with the vast majority of fatalities in France, which was hit by the Charlie Hebdo and Paris atrocities in 2015.

The figures are “markedly higher” than in 2014, when four people were killed and six wounded, Europol said.

The EU law enforcement agency’s latest Terrorism Situation And Trend Report said the total number of terrorist incidents across the EU in 2015 slightly increased compared with 2014, when there were 201.

Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and the UK reported failed, foiled and completed attacks.

The report said the UK reported the highest number – 103. It is thought these were mostly linked to Northern Ireland.

The UK number did not specify terrorist affiliations, but figures for the other countries showed attacks specifically classified as separatist terrorism accounted for the largest proportion, followed by jihadist attacks. The report added that there was an increase in right-wing attacks.

Europol director Rob Wainwright said the EU experienced a “massive” number of casualties caused by terrorist attacks in 2015.

In a foreword to the report, he warned that Europe “currently faces a shifting and increasing range of threats emanating from jihadist groups and individuals”.