Fears in Europe of Possible Terrorist Attacks

Mourners light candles at the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, December 20, 2016, one day after a truck ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital. (PHOTO: REUTERS/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE)
Mourners light candles at the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, December 20, 2016, one day after a truck ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital. (PHOTO: REUTERS/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE)
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Fears in Europe of Possible Terrorist Attacks

Mourners light candles at the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, December 20, 2016, one day after a truck ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital. (PHOTO: REUTERS/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE)
Mourners light candles at the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, December 20, 2016, one day after a truck ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital. (PHOTO: REUTERS/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE)

A recent report published by the Soufan Center — a Washington-based security intelligence consultancy group— warned of possible terrorist attacks in Europe and elsewhere, in the wake of the return, from Syria and Iraq, of at least 5,600 citizens or residents from 33 different countries, accounting for about 15 percent of the militants.

The report entitled, “Beyond the Caliphate: Foreign Fighters and the Threat of Returnees,” released this week by the Center, said that the return of militants represented a tremendous challenge to the security bodies in the respective countries, pointing out that more than 40 thousand foreigners have joined ISIS before and after the announcement of the formation of the alleged 'Caliphate' in June 2014, and that some of them would remain committed to “violent jihad”, as called for by ISIS and al-Qaeda.

The report highlighted problems facing women and children who had joined ISIS and presented an overview of the policies adopted by European governments regarding the return of foreign militants.

According to the report, Russia sent the largest number of European extremists to ISIS in Syria and Iraq (3,417), followed by France (1,910), Germany (900), Britain (425), Sweden (267), Spain (204) and Italy (110).

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Sheikh Nabil Naeem, a former leader of the Jihad group in Egypt, said that the returnees from ISIS to their countries are divided into two types: those who hate the experience they had with ISIS and are willing to re-integrate in the society, and those who cannot accept rehabilitation as they are strongly committed to their extremist ideology and could possibly form dormant terrorist cells in their homeland.

In January, European investigations and reports confirmed that ISIS had adopted a plan to return foreign militants to Europe after signing special forms including their intention to carry out operations in the Old Continent.

Observers stress that this was a “ticking bomb, which could explode at any time and anywhere in the world”.



Greece Blocks Asylum Claims for Migrants on Crete after Surge in Arrivals

Migrants get off a bus at the port of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 08 July 2025. EPA/NIKOS CHALKIADAKIS
Migrants get off a bus at the port of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 08 July 2025. EPA/NIKOS CHALKIADAKIS
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Greece Blocks Asylum Claims for Migrants on Crete after Surge in Arrivals

Migrants get off a bus at the port of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 08 July 2025. EPA/NIKOS CHALKIADAKIS
Migrants get off a bus at the port of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 08 July 2025. EPA/NIKOS CHALKIADAKIS

Greece's government said Wednesday it is temporarily suspending asylum applications for migrants arriving on the island of Crete, following a spike in arrivals from Libya.

More than 2,000 migrants have landed on the island since the weekend, according to coast guard figures, bringing the total number of arrivals this year to over 10,000.

Speaking in parliament, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the government also planned to build a detention site on Crete for migrants and was seeking direct collaboration between the Libya and Greek coast guards to turn back boats leaving the North African country.

“This emergency situation clearly demands emergency measures,” Mitsotakis told parliament Wednesday. “The Greek government has decided to inform the European Commission that ... it will suspend the processing of asylum applications — for an initial period of three months — for those arriving by sea from North Africa.”

According to The Associated Press, the suspension will apply only to migrants reaching Crete by sea. Migrants entering illegally will be detained, Mitsotakis said. “The Greek government is sending a firm message: the route to Greece is closing, and that message is directed at all human traffickers,” he said.

Overnight, a fishing trawler carrying 520 migrants from Libya was intercepted south of Crete. A bulk carrier that took all of the migrants onboard was rerouted to the port of Lavrio, near Athens, so that the migrants could be detained on a mainland facility, authorities said.