Developed countries across Europe are becoming more and more vulnerable to terrorism, mostly due to the rising power of the Islamic State (ISIS) and other Islamist extremist groups, a global risk consultancy has warned.
The risk of an extremist terrorist or political attack poses a threat to business across Europe but seven countries in particular are in particular danger: France, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and Estonia.
"Top risks for business include increased terrorism threats across developed economies, and a progressively uncertain and dangerous geopolitical environment, where the risk of armed conflict is growing amid changing and unstable regional balances of power," said Aon in a report published on Tuesday with the Risk Advisory Group.
The risk to western European countries was highlighted in January this year, when gunmen claiming affinity to Al-Qaeda killed 17 people in a series of attacks in Paris. Norway, meanwhile, saw 77 people slaughtered in 2011 by a far-right terrorist Anders Behring Breivik.