Feared Islamic State militants are sneaking into Europe by mingling with boatloads of desperate asylum seekers, putting the European nations at risk of potential terror threats, according to a media report.
“The ISIS killers are among the surge of 1,000 migrants a day braving the perilous five-mile trip from the Turkish coast to the Greekholiday isle of lesbos,” the Mirror reported.
“ISIS can easily send fighters here to get to mainland Greece and on to wherever they want. It’s a huge and continuing problem,” an island port officer was quoted as saying by the paper.
He said the smugglers put too many people on tiny boats and make lots of money.
“The Turkish Government needs to stop them coming. We can’t stop them once they arrive. We’re only a small force and there are 1,000 immigrants arriving here every day. The situation is out of control. We need help,” the officer said.
ISIS is an al-Qaeda splinter group and it has seized hundreds of square miles in Iraq and Syria, and declared the area an Islamic “caliphate”.
The ISIS, known for its atrocities and brutality, has attracted thousands of foreign fighters, many from the Europe.
According to EU officials, 5,000-6,000 Europeans are fighting with jehadist groups in Syria.
Security officials fear the battle-hardened militants will return to their homeland to carry out attacks.
“This is an extremely attractive route for the IS to move people from Syria into Europe,” said security expert Colonel Richard Kemp.