Zinke Misstates Rate of Terrorist Attacks By Children

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke has wrongly stated in two debates that 80 percent of terrorist attacks in a Central African conflict are carried out by children.

Refugee resettlements have emerged as an issue in Montana's election campaigns with the recent arrival of a family who escaped war in Africa.

Zinke has said the resettlement program should be suspended until a proper vetting process can be conducted.

He illustrated his point in debates Monday and Thursday against Democratic challenger Denise Juneau by saying four of five terrorist attacks by the Islamic insurgent group Boko Haram are conducted by children.

His campaign cited as its source a news article about a UNICEF report from April.

The report says nearly one out of five suicide bombers in that conflict are children.

Campaign spokeswoman Heather Swift said Friday that Zinke misspoke.