800 Islamists head for Europe

At least 800 extremists recruited by Islamic State or groups affiliated to the al-Qaeda are prepared ‘to do anything’ to launch attacks in Europe, media reports said on Tuesday.

The Islamist fighters who have returned from Syria or Iraq are preparing to launch attacks in Europe, The Times reported citing Spanish counterterrorism officers.

The Spanish officers referred to the number of jihadists residing on the continent who have been recruited by Islamic State or groups affiliated to al-Qaeda.

THE JIHADI FIGHTERS WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM SYRIA OR IRAQ ARE PREPARING TO LAUNCH ATTACKS IN THE CONTINENT

Another 350 or so Britons have returned from fighting in the war zone, with security sources acknowledging that some are plotting attacks in the UK specifically.

The warnings came as Spain and Morocco arrested 14 people in a joint operation targeting suspected recruiters for IS.

Those arrested are suspected of involvement in a network to send fighters to areas of Syria and Iraq under IS control.

Also on Friday, Ayoub El Khazzani, 25, a Moroccan gunman, was overpowered on a high-speed train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris. He was said to be an ‘Islamist returner’, apparently having left France for Syria last year.