Revealed: the world's cities most likely to be hit by a terror attack

Sixty-four cities around the world are at "extreme" risk, with most in the Middle East and Asia - and three in Europe

By Andrew Marszal 21 May 2015 • 5:00am

Baghdad is the world's most dangerous city according to a new index - but the risk of terrorist attack in European cities has risen sharply in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks.

According to the index, which ranks world cities by the likelihood of a terror attack based on historic trends, 64 cities around the world are at "extreme risk" of a terror attack.

Of these, the majority are in the Middle East (27) or Asia (19).

^{The most dangerous city in the world: the aftermath of an explosion in Baghdad (Picture: AP)}

Some 14 are in Africa, where the rise of Boko Haram and al-Shabaab as well as political instability have increased risk.

Three are in Europe - Luhansk (46) and Donetsk (56) in Ukraine, and Grozy (54) in Russia - while Colombia's Cali (59) is the only South American city on the list.

The British city most at risk of terror attacks in Belfast (91), followed by Bristol (178), Cardiff (313), Manchester (398) and London (400).

^{Bristol is riskier than both Manchester and London in terms of terror attacks (Picture: Getty)}

Paris is ranked 97th in the world, up from 201st at the start of the year prior to the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

The world's seven most dangerous cities are all in Iraq, including Isil-held Mosul (2) and Ramadi (3).

Cities are ranked based on the intensity and frequency of attacks in the 12 months following February 2014, combined with the number and severity of incidents in the previous five years.