In 2017, terrorists went on a rampage, striking here, there and everywhere.
Scene like this is has become a daily occurrence in Nigeria. (Foreign Policy)
The capacity of terrorists to inflict maximum damage became quite a thing all through 2017.
France, the United States, Nigeria, the Middle East and the UK all had their fair share of gun and bomb attacks; as governments around the world continue to grapple with the evil that has become terrorism.
Terrorists did deploy trucks, bombs, guns and knives as they killed innocents and attacked everywhere all year.
2017 was a pretty bloody and violent one.
1. Boko Haram attacks Nigeria
A bomb blast scene in Maiduguri (Tribune)
Terrorist sect Boko Haram continued to mount soft target attacks on civilian populations all through 2017.
In July, Boko Haram attacked ten trucks conveying military personnel and oil workers at Magumeri, Gubio local government area of Borno State.
Local reports say only five persons escaped this attack.
In May, seven people were killed when Boko Haram fighters stormed remote villages in Mussa and shot at villagers in Askira-Uba LGA, Borno state. An unspecified number of people were also reportedly kidnapped.
In June, multiple attacks rocked the eastern axis of Maiduguri. At least 10 persons didn’t survive the barrage of explosives and gunfire.
Through June and December, Boko Haram killed in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
2. New York truck attack
The suspect in the New York truck attack used to drive for Uber (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
On October 31, 2017, a terrorist rammed a rented truck into cyclists and runners along the Hudson River's bike path, killing eight and injuring 11 others.
The attacker was later found to have links with terrorist sect ISIS.
3. Manchester Terror attack
Scene of Manchester attack (AFP)
On May 22, 2017, at least 22 people were killed and 59 others left seriously injured when a terrorist detonated an explosive device at a Manchester Arena filled with concert goers.
Teenage US singer, Ariane Grande, had just finished headlining a concert at the Arena when the explosive went off.
4. Paris Shooting
Shooting in Paris (AFP)
On April 20, 2017, a lone gunman killed a police officer on the Champs Elysees in Paris.
The attacker was shot dead at the scene before he could inflict more damage.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the killing.
5. Stockholm attack
Police at scene of Stockholm killing (AFP/File)
In April, four people were killed and at least 15 injured when a terrorist drove a truck down a busy shopping street in Stockholm, Sweden.
39-year-old Rakhmat Akilov, a failed asylum seeker from Uzbekistan, confessed to the crime.
Akilov confessed to being a member of ISIS and told police investigators that he had “achieved what he set out to do”.
6. Westminster attack
British police grapple with ISIS terrorism (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)
On March 22, 2017, Khalid Masood mowed down pedestrians on Westminster bridge, London, killing four people and injuring many others.
The Express UK reported that “The knifeman crashed his car into the railings outside parliament, got out and ran into New Palace Yard where he stabbed a brave police officer to death.
“Masood was shot dead by armed police”.
7. Louvre, France attack
Louvre in France came under attack as well (AFP)
A terrorist wielding a knife was shot dead after he tried to attack soldiers guarding the Louvre in Paris, France on February 3, 2017.
The attacker chanted ‘Allahu Akbar’ and drew a machete on the soldiers after being told he could not gain access to the Louvre Carousel shopping centre.
He was carrying two backpacks on him.
8. Finsbury Park terror attack
Finsbury attack came under attack too (AFP)
On June 19, 2017, a van driver mowed down Muslim worshippers on Seven Sisters road which lies a few meters away from the Finsbury Park mosque in London.
One man died from the attack while 10 others were left badly injured.
9. London bridge terror attack
London bridge terror attack (AFP)
On June 3, 2017, three men wielding knives mowed down pedestrians on the London bridge and embarked on a killing spree in pubs and restaurants around 10pm.
10. US mass shootings
Candle lights for the departed (AFP/File)
According to Business Insider, there were over 307 mass shootings in the United States in 2017.
In November, at least 26 people were killed and several others left injured when a man approached the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and opened fire on the congregation.
A Business Insider report reads as follows: “The Texas incident marked the 307th mass shooting in 2017, according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive, which tracks shootings in the US. The US has had nearly as many mass shootings as days in 2017.
“Americans are more likely to die from gun violence than many leading causes of death combined, with some 11,000 people in the US killed in firearm assaults each year”.
On October 1, 2017, a gunman opened fire on a crowd of concert goers at the Route 51 Harvest Music festival on the Las Vegas strip in Nevada, killing 58 and injuring 548 others.
11. New York subway explosion
New York subway came under attack from an ISIS lover (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
27-year-old Akayed Ullah blew up a homemade explosive in a pedestrian subway tunnel in Midtown, Manhattan on December 11, 2017.
The blast was detonated in an underground walkway linking two subway lines beneath the Port Authority bus terminal.
The suspect was identified as a Bangladeshi national who has taken permanent residence in the US since 2011 on an F43 family immigrant visa.
A law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the investigation told CNN that the suspect had pledged allegiance to ISIS.
The suspect also said he acted in response to Israeli actions in Gaza.
No lives were lost in this attack, but five persons were treated for minor injuries.
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