Terror Map Shows States at Risk of Attack

Most of western Europe and all of the United States and Russia are at “high risk” from terrorist attack, says a new assessment from one of the world’s leading insurance brokers. The global terrorism risk map from Aon, the world’s second largest insurance broker, has some surprises. All of the central and south American countries are designated either “low” or “negligible” risk – apart from Colombia, which is designated “extreme risk”. And Northern Ireland is seen as under a lesser threat of terrorist attack than the rest of the UK. It is the first time the Chicago-based broker, which employs former military and security service specialists to help make its assessments, has compiled a map of terrorism risk, although it has done a similar exercise for political risks for the past 10 years. Paul Dobbs, chairman of Aon’s special risks division, said: “If you want to get mugged, go to Latin America – but as far as explosions are concerned, the risks are practically negligible, outside Colombia.” Aon reckons one reason that Colombia now falls into its most dangerous category is because guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) have been receiving training from the Provisional IRA, and have switched their tactics from attacks in rural areas to large vehicle bombs in urban areas, which cause much greater damage. Full Story