Suicide Attacks in 2016: Fewer, but more Fatal

A project of the INSS Program on Terrorism and Low-Intensity Conflict has published a bi-annual report on worldwide suicide attacks. In the first half of 2016, about 198 suicide attacks were launched in 21 countries

Suicide Attacks in 2016: Fewer, but more Fatal

Photo: AP

In the first half of 2016, about 198 suicide attacks were launched in 21 countries, as opposed to 245 over the same period the previous year. These attacks were carried out by 337 suicide bombers (compared to 379 last year) and caused around 2,777 deaths (vs. 1,938). This indicates a decline of around 20% in the number of attacks in 2016 when compared with 2015. Despite the significant decrease in the number of terror attacks, the attacks have become more fatal, with an average of 14 fatalities per attack as compared with 8 fatalities per attack in the same period in the previous year (a 43% increase in 2016).

Most of the attacks were carried out in the Middle East. There were about 127 suicide attacks in the Middle East (64% of the attacks worldwide), 35 in Africa (17.5%), and 33 in Afghanistan and Pakistan (16.5%). It is worth noting that there was a significant decline in the number of attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan from the previous year.

The self-proclaimed "Islamic State" is directly or indirectly responsible for 142 of the suicide attacks launched during this period, which constitute 70% of the suicide attacks worldwide. These statistics are similar to the numbers for the first half of 2015. Of the 142 attacks attributed to it, the Islamic State has taken responsibility for 96 of them, 17 others are attributed to it despite the fact that it did not take credit, and 21 attacks were launched by its affiliates.

After nearly a decade in which almost no suicide attacks were carried out in Europe, 2016 saw deadly attacks launched in Brussels and Istanbul, which resulted in the deaths of 72 individuals and the wounding of 439. This trend started in November of the previous year with the suicide attacks in Paris.

Terror attacks carried out by women: In the first half of 2016, around 16 (vs. 25) suicide attacks were carried out by 33 (vs. 36) female suicide bombers that resulted in the deaths of around 305 (vs. 250) people. In 2016, there was a decline of around one-third in the number of attacks, yet there was an increase in the number of fatalities.