Europol Says 200 Terrorist Attacks, Attempts In Bloc In 2015

The European Union recorded more than 200 successful and failed terrorist attacks last year, the head of its counterterrorism center has revealed.

Manuel Navarrete Paniagua, head of the Europol police agency's Counterterrorism Center, said that despite extensive government action, violent religious-driven extremism remained the "top threat to the security" of the 28-nation bloc and its half-billion citizens.

Paniagua said a total of 151 people were killed and more than 360 injured during terrorist attacks in the EU in 2015.

He said there were 211 failed, foiled, and completed terrorist attacks in 2015.

He added that more than 1,000 people were arrested for terrorist-related offences.

Paniagua provided European Parliament members on May 23 with figures from an annual report on terrorism trends that Europol will release in the coming weeks. Its data is compiled from EU member states.

Based on reporting by dpa and AP