Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 29, 1995 TAG: 9505010048
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short
The report did say, however, that there was an upsurge of attacks by Islamic extremist groups last year, and a senior official warned that locally spawned terrorism - comparable to the incident last week in Oklahoma City - is increasing worldwide.
The official also described as a ``dangerous problem'' the links between domestic and foreign extremist groups. In that category, he said, are political as well as religious groups.
According to the State Department report, the 321 incidents of international terrorism recorded last year were less than half the 665 registered in 1987, the peak year. Globally, the number of attacks directed against U.S. targets fell to 66 last year from 88 in 1993. None took place on U.S. soil.
International terrorism is defined in the report as terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than one country.
Philip Wilcox, the State Department coordinator for counterterrorism, said the decline in such activities resulted from improved law enforcement cooperation around the world.
``There's less ambivalence in the world today that terrorism is a crime,'' Wilcox said. Another contributing factor, he said, was the demise of the Soviet Union, which he described as a refuge and a supporter of terrorist groups. Other positive developments he cited were the democratic evolution in South Africa and the beginnings of peace in Northern Ireland.
by CNB