Somalia overtakes Iraq as country ‘most at risk from terror attacks’

MOGADISHU - Somalia has overtaken Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as the country most at risk from terror attacks, according to the Terrorism Risk Index (TRI) calculated by the Maplecroft company.

Sixteen countries including Colombia, Thailand, the Philippines and India were reportedly deemed to be at “extreme” risk of attacks while Iran, Nigeria, Spain and Myanmar were all classed as “high” risk countries.

Somalia, which has suffered 556 terror incidents and 1437 deaths during the study period, faces a battle to curb the activities of the al Shabaab Islamic group, which has claimed responsibility for several bombings, news.com.au reports.

Yemen moved up 13 places into the “extreme risk” category as terror group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula continues to gain in strength in the country.

The index was calculated using information on the frequency and intensity of such attacks between June 2009 and June 2010 in 196 countries.

Meanwhile, Maplecroft chief executive Alyson Warhurst has highlighted the increasing importance of this kind of risk assessment within the business world. (ANI)