3,000 European jihadists are now in Syria and Iraq EU counter-terrorism chief says between 20 and 30% of foreign fighters have returned to their home countries The number of Europeans joining Islamist fighters in Syria and Iraq has surged to about 3,000 from 2,000 only months ago, the EU counter-terrorism chief said Tuesday. In an exclusive interview with AFP, Gilles de Kerchove said the flow of Europeans may have been boosted by the Islamic State militant groups declaration in June of a caliphate straddling Syria and Iraq. My guess is we are at around 3,000 [jihadists], he said. Most of these fighters come from France, Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, according to Kerchove. However, there are also a number of jihadists from Spain, Italy, Ireland and Austria. Between 20 and 30 percent of these foreign fighters have already returned home to their European countries of origin, he added. Some have begun living a normal life while others suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders and yet others represent a radical threat. According to Kerchove, European countries must monitor each returning foreign fighter to determine the best response and whether they represent a security threat. (with AFP)
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 03:16:45 +0000
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