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| Europeans must get ready for jihadis fleeing Mosul, says EU security expert Europeans must get ready for jihadis fleeing Mosul, says EU security expert | |
| (2 months later) | |
| Europe must be prepared for an influx of Islamic State militants if Iraqi forces retake control of Mosul, the EU’s security commissioner has warned. | Europe must be prepared for an influx of Islamic State militants if Iraqi forces retake control of Mosul, the EU’s security commissioner has warned. |
| Although Julian King did not believe there would be a large number of Isis fighters leaving the jihadi group’s Iraqi stronghold for Europe, the British diplomat stressed that even a handful of jihadis returning would pose a “serious threat that we must prepare ourselves for”. | Although Julian King did not believe there would be a large number of Isis fighters leaving the jihadi group’s Iraqi stronghold for Europe, the British diplomat stressed that even a handful of jihadis returning would pose a “serious threat that we must prepare ourselves for”. |
| Thousands of Europeans have gone to Iraq and Syria over the past two years to fight with Isis, but the Islamist extremists have suffered a string of defeats in recent months in both countries. | Thousands of Europeans have gone to Iraq and Syria over the past two years to fight with Isis, but the Islamist extremists have suffered a string of defeats in recent months in both countries. |
| Those defeats have prompted some of its fighters to begin returning to the continent, but about 2,500 European fighters remain in the conflict zones, King told the German newspaper Die Welt. | Those defeats have prompted some of its fighters to begin returning to the continent, but about 2,500 European fighters remain in the conflict zones, King told the German newspaper Die Welt. |
| Chris Phillips, managing director of counter-terrorism consultancy Ippso, said Isis was “entering a new phase” and that waning control over its so-called caliphate “would force them into more guerrilla or terrorist actions”. | Chris Phillips, managing director of counter-terrorism consultancy Ippso, said Isis was “entering a new phase” and that waning control over its so-called caliphate “would force them into more guerrilla or terrorist actions”. |
| “I think we will see a growth of terrorist attacks across north Africa and the west,” he said, adding that fighters could use the same routes as refugees to slip in unnoticed. | “I think we will see a growth of terrorist attacks across north Africa and the west,” he said, adding that fighters could use the same routes as refugees to slip in unnoticed. |
| A French security source said anti-Isis coalition forces must strive to trap the jihadis in Mosul. About 400 French nationals are thought to be still in the war zones. Thousands of Tunisians have also fought for the terror organisation, making them the biggest group by nationality. | A French security source said anti-Isis coalition forces must strive to trap the jihadis in Mosul. About 400 French nationals are thought to be still in the war zones. Thousands of Tunisians have also fought for the terror organisation, making them the biggest group by nationality. |
| France is particularly unsettled about potential Islamist returnees after being hit by a series of terror attacks, including the 13 November assault in Paris that left 130 people dead. | France is particularly unsettled about potential Islamist returnees after being hit by a series of terror attacks, including the 13 November assault in Paris that left 130 people dead. |
| In Germany, which took in about 900,000 asylum seekers last year, many are growing increasingly wary after two attacks in July committed by refugees in the name of Isis. The country’s spy agency chief, Hans-Georg Maassen, has also warned of the radicalisation of newcomers to Germany. | In Germany, which took in about 900,000 asylum seekers last year, many are growing increasingly wary after two attacks in July committed by refugees in the name of Isis. The country’s spy agency chief, Hans-Georg Maassen, has also warned of the radicalisation of newcomers to Germany. |
| About 340 cases have already been recorded of Islamists posing as aid workers to gain access to asylum seekers in shelters, he said, but the real number could be far higher. | About 340 cases have already been recorded of Islamists posing as aid workers to gain access to asylum seekers in shelters, he said, but the real number could be far higher. |