Steven Stalinsky

A few weeks before Thursday’s attack in Barcelona, the Islamic State’s main online magazine posted an illustrated article with advice on acquiring a special kind of truck — specifically, the kind best suited for mowing down large numbers of pedestrians.

Faced with a global surge in terrorism that has included radical Islamist elements in the Balkans, most countries in the Balkan region have visibly improved counter-terrorism policies, but some still have difficulties with lack of capacities, experience, and resources, a US State Department report said.

Jihadist attacks around the world in November killed a total of 5,042 people, showing Islamist extremism is "stronger than ever" despite Al-Qaeda's declining role, a new study published on Dec. 11 said.