UN agency: 40 youths murdered daily in Europe

(AP)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The World Health Organization says 40 young Europeans are murdered every day, with Russia, Albania and Kazakhstan having the highest homicide rates for people aged 10-29.

In its first report on youth violence, WHO's European office says about 40 percent of the 15,000 annual youth homicides are perpetrated with knifes and sharp weapons. Other means include firearms and strangulation.

Homicide is the third most common cause of death after road traffic injuries and suicides for that age group. Eighty percent of the victims are men.

The report — presented Tuesday at a conference in London — says Austria, Armenia and Germany had the lowest youth murder rate among the 53 European nations covered by the survey.