NEW YORK: ISIL or Da’esh and its terrorist affiliates have expanded their activities and finances in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq as well as in several parts of Africa, resulting in a major spike in attacks and civilian fatalities, a senior UN counter-terrorism official has warned the Security Council.
Vladimir Voronkov, head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), also highlighted the danger posed by ISIL-Khorasan, the Da’esh affiliate in Afghanistan, resulting in heightened threat levels in Europe. “The activity of Da’esh and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan remains a significant concern,” he told the 25-member Council.
“We must unite to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a hotbed of terrorism,” he added.
A United Nations (UN) report cited the attack by the group on the Crocus City Hall near Moscow that killed over 140 concert goers and wounded more than 500. ISIL-K also increased propaganda “possibly inspiring” actors to attack “soft” targets, raising concerns at high-visibility sporting events, the report said.
“The group is considered the greatest external terrorist threat to the continent,” Voronkov said. He underscored that terrorism continues to remain a significant challenge for the international community, one that no state can tackle alone. –Agencies
