TerrorismRelated Deaths Up 60 Last Year Study Says
Nearly 18,000 people were killed in terrorist-related incidents last year, a 60 increase from the previous year, a new study found. Deaths have increased five-fold since 2000. The report, compiled by the Institute for Economics  Peace, attributes the increased terrorist activity to the growing influence of "radical Islamic groups." Two thirds of the fatalities came at the hands of ISIS, Boko Haram, al-Qaeda and the Taliban, the report said. "Given the theological nature of the problem it is difficult for outside actors to be influential," Steve Killelea, institute executive chairman, said in a statement. As the number of deaths has expanded, the location of attacks has remained limited. More than 80 of the deaths occurred in just five countries Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria.