Overview of vehicle attacks in major European cities

World
Europe

Blasted as a “cowardly act of terror” by Mayor Bill de Blasio, Tuesday's terrorist attack saw a truck drive into civilians on a cycle path in New York, not the first time a vehicle has been used to launch an attack on innocent passersby.

Cities around the world have been on high alert against attacks by extremists using vehicles, after a series of such incidents across Europe.

Last July, a gunman drove a truck into a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice, killing 86 and injuring dozens.

ISIL claimed responsibility for the incident and the attacker was identified as a Tunisian-born Frenchman.

The Bastille Day terror attack in Nice, France in July 2016 /Salon.com Photo

Last December, a truck ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48.

In March this year, an attacker stabbed a police officer close to the parliament building in central London, after driving his car into pedestrians on nearby Westminster Bridge.

Six people died, including the assailant and the policeman.

A month later in April, a truck drove into pedestrians on a shopping street in the Swedish capital Stockholm before crashing into a department store, killing 5 people and wounding 15.

In June, three attackers drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge then proceeded to stab people in nearby bars, killing 8 and injuring at least 48.

ISIL also claimed responsibility for that incident.

While in August, a van drove into crowds on the popular tourist street Las Ramblas in Barcelona, killing at least 13 people.