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The ICT Database Team is pleased to present a brief overview of the terrorist incidents and counter-terrorist actions that occurred worldwide in August 2015. The incidents covered in this month’s report join the over 35,000 previously-recorded terrorist and counter-terrorist incidents in the ICT database.

This month’s report covers terrorist incidents throughout the world, with special emphasis in Asia specifically in Thailand. On August 17, 20 people were killed and more than 120 others injured when a pipe bomb, containing three kilograms of TNT explosives, detonated at the Erawan Shrine, a popular tourist site in central Bangkok.

Authorities said the bomb was placed in the grounds of the shrine under a bench. The following day, one August 18, a second bomb exploded in Bangkok, but there were no casualties and no group claimed responsibility.

On August 19, authorities said they had identified the prime suspect who they later identified as Bilal Mohammed. Several arrests were made in connection with the attack. No group claimed responsibility for the attack although some authorities suspected Uigher militants may be responsible.

August 2015 was also marked by terrorist incidents in: Afghanistan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Cameroon; Egypt; Iraq; Israel and the West Bank; Libya; Mali; Nigeria; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Somalia; Syria; Tunisia; Turkey; and Yemen.

This month’s report covers counter- terrorist incidents throughout the world, with special emphasis in Europe specifically France. On August 21, three people were moderately injured when they successfully prevented Ayoub El-Khazzani, 26, a lone gunman, inspired by ISIS, carry out a shooting attack on a high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris.

El-Khazzani, a Moroccan, was armed with a Kalashnikov rifle and knife (some witnesses reported he had a box cutter). The attack occurred as the train was passing through Belgium. Three US citizens, two off-duty US servicemen identified as Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone heard the sound of a weapon being loaded from the toilet of the train. Together with their friend and a British and French passenger, they managed to subdue the attacker until authorities arrested him in Arras in northern France, where the train was diverted to.

On August 26, El-Khazzani was charged with terror-related crimes including “multiple counts of attempted murder, possession of weapons, and conspiracy.” August 2015 was also marked by counter-terrorist incidents in: Afghanistan; Australia; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Cameroon; Chad; Germany; Kenya; Israel and the West Bank; Lebanon; North America; Pakistan; Russia; Saudi Arabia; Spain; Syria; Thailand; Turkey; UK; and Yemen.