Islamic State ‘caliphate’ is gone but new wave of terrorist attacks possible before end of the year, UN warns
- UN Security Council findings raise concerns about up to 30,000 foreigners who travelled to fight and who may still be alive
- A further challenge is the imminent release of some of the first wave of returnees to be imprisoned after returning from Isis territory
The United Nations has warned that a recent pause in international terrorist violence may soon end, with a new wave of attacks possible before the end of the year.
In a report, specialist monitors at the UN Security Council paint a worrying picture of a global Islamist extremist movement that continues to pose a significant threat despite recent setbacks.
The authors raise concerns about up to 30,000 foreigners who travelled to the “caliphate” to fight and who may still be alive.
“Their future prospects will be of international concern for the foreseeable future,” the report says. “Some may join al-Qaeda or other terrorist brands that may emerge. Some will become leaders or radicalisers.”
The report is based on information supplied by intelligence agencies of UN member states, and provides a glimpse of collective thinking among security services around the world.