The victims of terrorist attacks in western countries increased by 650% in 2015 even though there was a worldwide decrease of 10% , according to the 2016 Global Terrorism Index report.

In 2014 there were 77 terrorist-related deaths, while in 2015, the number rose to 577.  Half of  the 577 deaths were linked to ISIS, including the Paris massacres in November of last year and the Charlie Hebdo shootings the previous year.

The report, produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) said military operations against ISIS and Boko Haram reduced deaths by terrorist attacks in Iraq and Nigeria, but that jihadis have now spread to other regions.

The report does not include more recent atrocities such as the March attacks in Brussels and Istanbul and the Bastille Day massacre in Nice which killed 87 people.

Steve Killelea, executive chairman of IEP, said: “The attacks in the heartland of Western democracies underscore the need for fast-paced and tailored responses to the evolution of these organisations. ‘Isil (another term for ISIS) foreign fighters who have gone to Syria generally have high levels of education but low incomes, with many fighters joining in part due to a feeling of exclusion in their home countries.  Understanding the drivers of terrorism is crucial if we are to develop counter-terrorism strategies that help combat radicalization.”