The number of Europeans joining Islamist fighters in Syria and Iraq has jumped by a third to around 3,000 in a few months, the EU counterterrorism chief said Tuesday [23 Sep 2014].<\/p>\n
In an exclusive interview with AFP, Gilles de Kerchove said the flow of Europeans may have been boosted by the Islamic State militant group\u2019s declaration in June of a caliphate straddling Syria and Iraq.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy own assessment is that we\u2019re about 3,000,\u201d he said when asked how many European fighters have flocked to the extremists\u2019 cause.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe flow has not been dried up, and therefore possibly the proclamation of the caliphate has had some impact,\u201d de Kerchove said.<\/p>\n
His comments came hours after the United States and its Arab allies unleashed deadly strikes from land and sea on jihadists in Syria, opening a new front in the battle against the Islamic State group.<\/p>\n
The European fighters, he said, come mainly from France, Britain, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, but a few come from Spain, Italy, Ireland and now Austria.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven a country like Austria I think has now foreign fighters, which I was not aware of before,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The EU counterterrorism coordinator nonetheless said he would check his figures with those of European security service chiefs in the next couple of weeks, saying their numbers may be more conservative.<\/p>\n
He estimated that between 20 and 30 percent have now returned to their home countries. Some have resumed a normal life while others are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. But some have become radicalized and dangerous, he warned.<\/p>\n
He said EU countries will prosecute militants if they have evidence they have joined a radical organization, and will discreetly monitor those for whom they have no evidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge is for each member state to assess each and every returnee, assess their dangerousness and provide the adequate response,\u201d de Kerchove said.<\/p>\n
He welcomed the expected adoption Wednesday of a U.N. Security Council resolution designed to make it a criminal offense to go abroad to train for or fight in a holy war.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe draft (resolution) is really addressing the right questions. But it\u2019s of course up to each state and group of states, in our case 28, to go deeper into this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In some cases, European countries may be more advanced as they have been tackling the problem for longer.<\/p>\n
He backed French draft legislation that allows the interior minister to withdraw passports from individuals when there is sufficient intelligence \u2014 rather than evidence \u2014 that they are travelling for jihad.<\/p>\n
The EU itself boosted security this week after reports that jihadists returning from Syria were planning to target the European Commission building in Brussels.<\/p>\n
De Kerchove said much of the reason so many Europeans were able to fight in Syria was because of neighboring Turkey\u2019s proximity to Europe and its role as a mass tourism destination.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Europeans wanting to travel to fight in Afghanistan, Mali, Yemen and Somalia faced geographic obstacles, greater costs and even hotter environments.<\/p>\n
Despite the difficulties, the Turks are arresting and sending back many European citizens, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore needs to be done, that\u2019s true. But we work together. And I\u2019m not at all in a blaming game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand the difficulty of the Turks. We have an excellent dialogue, and we explore together how we can work more closely together,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He said he did not expect well-organized large-scale attacks like those of Sept. 11, 2001.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the lone wolf with a Kalashnikov may do a lot of damage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He expected the risk of retaliatory attacks against Europeans to rise after France joined the United States in carrying out airstrikes against jihadis in Iraq.<\/p>\n