AS details emerge of death and destruction following explosions near an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, many will be throwing their minds back to attacks on Europe that have cost countless lives and delivered devastation to families.

In the past 12 years, there have been eight major terrorist attacks on European soil.

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• 'It was a huge explosion, you could feel it in your chest'

Berlin attack (2016)

A TRUCK driven into a Christmas market in Berlin left 12 people dead and 56 others injured on December 19.

Among the fatalities was Łukasz Urban, the truck's original driver, who was found shot dead in the passenger seat. 

The man behind it was Anis Amri, an attempted asylum seeker from Tunisia.

He was killed four days later near Milan in Italy. 

Islamic State claims it gave Amri instructions on the attack, and released a video of him pledging his allegiance to the group's leader.

Nice attack (2016)

A 19-tonne cargo truck was driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice on July 14, killing 86 people and injuring 434.

The driver was a Tunisian resident of France named Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel.

The attack ended in a shoot-out, with Lahouaiej-Bouhlel being fatally wounded by police.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

French President Francois Hollande described it as an act of Islamic terrorism and extended the nation's state of emergency.

Brussels attack (2016)

Three co-ordinated suicide bombings struck in Belgium on March 22, two at the Brussels Airport and another at a metro station in central Brussels.

The attacks killed 32 people and injured more than 300.

Another bomb was found during a search of the airport.

The terrorists were part of a cell that was also responsible for the November 2015 attacks on Paris, and followed a concerted effort by police to crush the group.

The bombings were the deadliest act of terrorism in the country's history. It was followed by three days of national mourning.

Paris attack (2015)

Terror attacks killed 130 people, including 89 at the Bataclan theatre where bombers targeted an Eagles of Death Metal Concert. Seven of the attackers were also killed at the theatre. 

In total the attack involved three suicide bombers outside a football match in Saint-Denis, followed by mass shootings and another suicide bombing at cafes and restaurants.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying it was in retaliation for France's involvement in air strikes that targeted the terrorist group in Syria and Iraq.

Île-de-France attacks (2015)

The mass shooting which is best known for its targeting of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, left 17 dead in four separate attacks. Police then killed the three culprits.

A fifth attack did not result in any fatalities.

Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility, saying the attacks had been in planning for years.

Norway attack (2011)

The two mass killings were perpetrated by "lone wolf" attacker Anders Behring Breivik against the government and civilians.

It involved a car bomb exploding in Oslo which killed eight people and injured at least 209 on July 22.

The second attack later that day targeted an island summer camp, with Breivik shooting at campers, killing 68 of them immediately and injuring at least 110 people.

Minsk Metro bombing (2011)

At least 15 people were killed and more than 200 injured in an attack on the Minsk Metro in Belarus.

The bomb that exploded contained nails and ball bearings.

Dzmitry Kanavalau and Vlad Kavalyou were prosecuted for the attacks and executed by shooting in March 2012.

London bombings (2005)

Four Islamic extremists targeted central London on July 7, 2005, with an aim to disrupt the public transport system using suicide bomb attacks.

In the attacks which struck London Underground trains and later a double-decker bus, 52 people were killed.

More than 700 were injured in the attacks.