UNITED NATIONS (AP) 鈥 A top U.N. counterterrorism official told the Security Council that a vast stretch of Africa could fall under the control of the Islamic State group and affiliated terrorist organizations.
There was no known link between an alleged plot to in Vienna and the group or its affiliates elsewhere in the world, but both suspects appeared to be inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, Austrian authorities said Thursday.
In a regular report to the council, , the undersecretary for counterterrorism, told members that IS group affiliates have 鈥渆xpanded and consolidated their area of operations鈥 in West Africa and the Sahel.
A 鈥渧ast territory stretching from Mali to northern Nigeria could fall under their effective control鈥 if their influence continues, Voronkov said.
He said that IS group affiliates have also expanded operations in other parts of the continent, including parts of Mozambique, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which saw a 鈥渄ramatic increase in terrorist attacks鈥 that killed large numbers of civilians.
Voronkov told the council that ISIS-K, the group鈥檚 Afghanistan affiliate, has 鈥渋mproved its financial and logistical capabilities鈥 in the last six months and increased recruitment efforts. He said IS has demonstrated its global intent by claiming responsibility for ISIS-K attacks and increasing operations in Iraq and Syria.
