‘Europe in danger of terror activities’

The EU citizens who go to Syria for cooperation with ‘groups associated with terrorism’ in the Arab country increase the risk of future terror plots in Europe.

Pan-European police force Europol said in its annual EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report released on Thursday that Syria was the “destination of choice for foreign fighters in 2012.”

The report cited the risk that the foreign fighters pose on Europe – after their return – through using new training and knowledge that they acquired in Syria for conducting terrorist activities.

“The threat from terrorism… remains strong in Europe. It also continues to evolve from structured groups and networks to smaller EU-based groups and solo terrorists or lone actors,” the report said.

Europe has seen a rise in the number of its citizens entering Syria as ‘jihadists.’

On April 24, EU’s anti-terror chief Gilles de Kerchove told the British media that some 500 Europeans were in Syria to fight against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Kerchove said Britain, Ireland and France were among the EU countries to have the highest numbers of militants in Syria.

The EU official also warned that Europeans who had joined the militants in Syria would most likely be radicalized there and would be a serious threat when they get back to their countries.

On April 22, the EU foreign ministers met in Luxemburg and eased EU’s oil embargo on Syria to assist the foreign-backed militant groups. Under the deal, European countries will be allowed to purchase oil from the militants in Syria and in return provide them with funds needed to buy more weapons.

The Syrian government says the chaos in the country that began over two years ago is being orchestrated from outside. Many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the turmoil.