Brussels, 17/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - The number of terrorist attacks in the EU in 2008 fell by 23% in comparison with the previous year, a report by the European Police Office (Europol) revealed on Thursday 16 April. It said, however, that the threat of terrorist attack remained high. According to the report, a total of 515 failed, foiled or successfully perpetrated terrorist attacks were recorded in seven member states last year, and 1,009 people were arrested on terrorist charges. There were 391separatist terrorist attacks for which 501 people were arrested. 98% of these attacks were planned in Spain or France. Extreme left-wing and anarchist groups were responsible for some 28 attacks, mainly in Spain and Greece. 50 people were arrested in 2008 for terrorist activities linked to these groups. Although there were virtually no Islamist attacks in Europe in 2008 (one failed bomb attack in the United Kingdom), this kind of terrorism is still felt to offer the greatest threat. “Many planned attacks have been foiled,” stated Mariano Simancas, Deputy Director of Europol, at a press conference in Brussels. 187 people have been arrested, mainly in France, the United Kingdom and Spain, on suspicion of involvement in these planned attacks, Simancas said, adding that such terrorists formed small very fluid, autonomous cells. Their operations were financed principally by diverting money for charity organisations and associations. “The internet is their communication and propaganda tool,” Simancas said. For further information, go to http: //http://www.europol.europa.eu (B.C./transl.rt)