05/12/2018 (Agence Europe) – The number of deaths from terrorist attacks worldwide fell by 27% in 2017 compared to 2016, according to the Global Terrorism Index published on 5 December by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), amounting to 18,814 deaths. This is the third consecutive decline, the study points out. In Western Europe, the number of deaths by terrorist acts decreased from 168 in 2016 to 81 in 2017. “Preliminary figures for 2018 suggest that this trend will continue”, adds the IEP. Five countries - Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia and Syria - recorded more than 1,000 deaths each in 2017, and 19 countries more than 100 deaths. Afghanistan has been the most affected by terrorism. The Islamic State (IS) remained the most deadly terrorist group in 2017, although the number of people killed by this organization fell by 52 per cent compared to 2016. (SP)