France and Spain top terror targets

France and Spain were the European countries most targeted by terrorists in 2007 according to a Europol report.

Of the 583 terrorists attacks committed in nine western European countries, 91% hit France and Spain, most of which were related to separatist groups in Corsica and the Basque countries.

The annual report said just four acts of terrorism were linked to Islamic groups; two taking place in Britain, one in Denmark and one in Germany.

Europol is the European Union's criminal intelligence agency.

Terrorism related arrests in Europe rose more than 50% between 2006 and 2007, the report said.

Of the 1,044 suspects arrested, 400 were in France, 261 in Spain and 203 in the UK.

The report concluded that the number of terrorist attacks linked to separatists, particularly Basque and Corsican groups, was rising in Europe using homemade explosive and diffusing propaganda over the internet.

Photo: flickr The Gearys