Counterterrorism

First on CNN: Top U.S. intel official: Europe not taking advantage of terror tracking tools

A top U.S. counterterrorism official in charge of ensuring terrorists do not make it into the United States said European countries can do more to screen terrorists because they don't take full advantage of tools the U.S. has offered in the fight against terrorism.

"It's concerning that our partners don't use all of our data," said Terrorist Screening Center Director Christopher Piehota in an exclusive interview with CNN. "We provide them with tools. We provide them with support, and I would find it concerning that they don't use these tools to help screen for their own aviation security, maritime security, border screening, visas, things like that for travel."

Piehota said the U.S. shares its watch lists with EU countries, but that EU countries don't systematically utilize it to identify suspected terrorists or screen migrants coming.