A European Union report has said around 1,750 jihadists from the Islamic State militant group have returned to Europe as the Isis fighters came under pressure in former strongholds in Syria and Iraq. This has given rise to fears that the hardcore militants will unleash a wave of terror attacks in multiple European cities.
The EU report on Isis, which was prepared by the confederation's counter-terrorism department, is likely to be presented to European ministers by coordinator Gilles de Kerchove for further deliberation. On Thursday, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, while speaking at a meeting of ministers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), said that the terrorist threat in Europe is on the rise.
"A terrorist threat in our communities is not letting up, but is rather on the rise," Kurz said, as quoted by Russian News Agency TASS.
"Apart from the military operations in Syria and Iraq, we must deal with them [terrorists] using ideology and police. We must stand together and prevent the youth joining their ideology," he added.
Britain's MI6 intelligence agency has also warned people of possible terrorist attacks. During a public address in London, the agency's head Alex Younger said that the Jihadists are devising plans to carry out terror attack in UK and other countries.
The EU report comes just a month after Belgium voiced concerns about terrorists coming back to Europe as after being driven away from their territories in Syria and Iraq by US-backed coalition forces.
According to the Daily Mail, the EU report stated that nearly 5,000 European fanatics have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the Isis. Now, around 35 percent have returned to carry out terror attacks on the European soil while the remaining 50 percent stayed back.
The report said there are two kinds of terrorists who are returning to Europe. The first ones are those "in the majority that will drift back" and the second ones are those who are sent back " on specific missions". The report says Europe should be wary of the second category of jihadists.
