Europol warns of thousands of jihadists across Europe

Women especially successful, says Europol report

Europol, the European law enforcement body, has warned of multiple possible attacks across the continent in a 55-page report it released. The organisation’s spokesperson told German media that there were at least 5,000 ISIS jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq that were European nationals, 1,800 of which are estimated to have already returned to Europe and ready to carry out terrorist attacks across European cities. The spokesperson said that there was no proof that these jihadists were using the refugee flows to enter into Europe. “Members of terrorist organisations, or foreign fighters returning to Europe with EU passports were traveling by and large within the Union, with original or fake papers”, he said. The report made reference to lone attacks, like the ones that had already occurred in France and Germany. The organisation also says the latest attacks had been organised by ISIS, even though the group had claimed credit for them. The report also warns that women are among the potential jihadists, characterising their actions ‘especially successful’.