UN envoy warns of increased risk of terrorist attacks

China's envoy to the United Nations warned of a surge in hate crimes and an increased risk of terrorist attacks from Europe and Asia to Africa, calling on countries to "abandon ideological bias" and "uphold the concept of common security".

"As the new round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues to escalate, its spillover effects are constantly emerging, leading to a surge in hate crimes and an increased risk of terrorist attacks in many countries," Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said.

"These developments are a source of deep concern and disturbance."

He said at a Security Council meeting that the threat posed by Daesh, Al-Qaeda and its affiliated terrorist organizations continues unabated, and the terrorist activities are intertwined with ethnic conflicts and regional disputes.

Since the beginning of this year, there have been frequent terrorist attacks, resulting in mass casualties, he said.

Three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna this week were canceled after Austrian authorities on Wednesday arrested suspects of a planned terrorist attack on the events.

Austrian security officials said on Thursday that they found Islamic State and Al-Qaeda material at the home of one of the suspects, a 17-year-old Austrian citizen.

Last Friday, at least 37 civilians were killed and 212 people were injured in an explosion by a suicide bomber, who detonated a device at a popular beach restaurant in the Somali capital Mogadishu. The attack was claimed by the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab.

Grave situation

"Africa has long been at the forefront of international counterterrorism efforts, with the situation in West Africa and the Sahel region being particularly grave," Geng said.

"The UN and the international community should, based on the counterterrorism needs of the countries concerned, allocate more resources to help strengthen the legislative, judicial and law enforcement capabilities of the countries concerned and enhance their comprehensive counterterrorism and deradicalization capabilities."

Vladimir Voronkov, under-secretary-general of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, also warned the Security Council that IS group affiliates "continue to expand in the Sahel and inflict high casualties, undermining regional stability".

Should these groups keep extending their influence, "a vast territory stretching from Mali to northern Nigeria could fall under their effective control", Voronkov said.

He also highlighted that ISIS-K, the group's Afghanistan affiliate, has improved its financial and logistical capabilities over the past six months, which poses a significant risk of terrorist attacks beyond Afghanistan.

According to the UN, there is also an increased risk of the return of Daesh in the Middle East. "The international community should stay highly vigilant, especially in preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a hub for terrorist organizations," Geng said.

"Counterterrorism should not become a tool for major power rivalry, a bargaining chip in geopolitics, or a pretext for interfering in other countries' internal affairs.

"All countries should uphold the concept of common security, abandon ideological bias, eradicate double standards or selectivity in counterterrorism efforts, and effectively respect and protect the security of each and every country."

Geng called for adherence to the UN Charter, the practice of true multilateralism, and to ensure that the UN leads global counterterrorism efforts by implementing relevant resolutions and combating listed terrorist groups and individuals.

He said countries should enhance cooperation at all levels, focusing on early warning, financing, travel restrictions, border control and intelligence exchange. The envoy called for countries to research the impact of emerging technologies on counterterrorism and foster cooperation to tackle new threats and challenges.