What Western Countries Are at Risk of Terror Attacks This Year?
Owned by the Mount Royal Times.
In a world wrecked by terror attacks, with nearly daily acts of violence claiming the lives of ever so many worldwide, we narrowed western nations threatened by terror this year down to nine countries. Here's our overview:
9. Belgium — Although quite safe in terms of terror attacks in recent years, Belgium has had its fair of terror attacks and radicalized citizens' involvement with attacks in other nations. For 2018, it's not impossible to imagine a terror attack in Belgium. Their main threats are ISIS, and other radical Islamist terror groups.
8. Germany — Another nation in Europe that can be considered at threat, though relatively safe, is the nation of Germany. Home to quite a series of small-size attacks by Islamist extremist organizations, once again ISIS in particular. They've been targeted before, for example the Christmas market truck attack and the Munich mall shooting.
7. Italy — Many wouldn't consider Italy at threat, but it can almost be considered at a severe threat level - though not governmentally recognized due to their weak political situations. The country has been threatened an extreme number of times by terror groups in Arabic countries. Their citizens have been targeted in attacks in other countries, as well. Mafia attacks are considered dangerous to some tourists.
6. Canada — For one of the most peaceful countries in the world, and definitely one of the quiestest involved in the war in the middle-East, America's northern nation of Canada can be considered at risk of terror attacks from the Islamic State (ISIL). They've underwent series of attacks before, though no major attacks in recent years.
5. Russia — Russia has been a target of major terror attacks before from Islamic extremist organizations. However, Russia's most severe problem is their political situation of which can sometimes lead to violent demonstrations, political or domestic terror attacks. Their foriegn relation climate can raise situations of war-terrorism with nearby nations.
4. Spain — The nation of Spain has had a horrible year of 2017, and is heading into 2018 with their heads held up high. Specifically in Catalonia, of which is the biggest tourist hotspot in their nation, political situations alongside Islamic extremist threats have risen a big question of safety for tourists and some civilians there as well.
3. France — Cities like Paris, Marseille and Nice have been targeted by violent terror attacks in recent years and has been relatively quiet in terms of ISIS attacks recently. However, the threat remains very vivid and real, imminent.
2. United Kingdom — The UK's being on this list proves that most of these nations are relatively safe in comparison to others in the world. However, due to the extreme danger of recent terror attacks by ISIS back in 2017, many could assume 2018 might just be another year of attacks. Some incidents in 2017 included the Manchester bombing, numerous London pedestrian car strikes, and a tube bombing.
1. United States — Out of this entire list, the US is home to the largest amount of mass shootings that often times target public locations. Some recent shooting that targeted public location is the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando back a few years. These events continue to happen, and definitely make the US seem more and more dangerous. Along with this, political disruption following the 2016 election and the Trump presidency continue to force many to avoid travel into America. This country is also not a stranger to terror attacks like other countries on these list, having a quite scary start to 2018 and end to 2017.