Gwalior, 1 February 2015: While the world continues to bleed from terrorist attacks, the year witnessed the chilling rise of a new jihadi group
Isis, The New Threat
Under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a Sunni militant group called the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) began an offensive in June, capturing large areas in Iraq and Syria. On 29 June 2014, the group proclaimed a worldwide caliphate, claiming religious, political and military authority over Muslims worldwide. The group has beheaded an unknown number of Syrians, several Lebanese soldiers, at least 10 Kurds, two American journalists, one American and two British aid workers. It also abducted scores of women from the minority Yazidi sect in Iraq to serve as sex slaves
Nigerian Nightmare
Boko Haram militants in Ngeria abducted an estimated 276 girls and women from a school on April 24. The outfit killed approximately 300 people in a night attack on May 5. Blasts in Jos on May 20 left 118 people dead
Sydney Siege
On December 15, a lone gunman stormed a Lindt chocolate cafe and held nine customers and eight employees hostage. The gunman demanded that an ISIS flag be brought to him during the siege. Cops shot dead the Iranian-origin ‘lone wolf’ terrorist after a 16-hour standoff. Two hostages were also killed
Peshawar Attack
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants conducted a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16. They entered the school and opened fire on staff and students, killing 150 people, including 134 children, ranging between eight and 18 years of age. A rescue operation was launched by the Pakistan army, which killed seven terrorists and freed 960 people. Jolted by the deadliest terrorist attack ever to occur in Pakistan, the government lifted a moratorium on death sentences and executed 6 convicted militants
