Terror threat

Belgium warns EU of larger influx of returning jihadists, urges greater intelligence cooperation

As Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) loses territory in both Iraq and Syria, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders has warned of an increasing influx of returning fighters who could carry out terror attacks in Europe.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault, Reynders said that cooperation and intelligence-sharing between countries was the key to dealing with the threat of returning battle-hardened militants.

“Today, thanks to the progress that we are making with the military coalition in Iraq and in Syria, we see that cities and entire provinces are being recovered,” he said, as quoted by AFP. “But there is concern about the larger return of these foreign fighters to our countries.”

“We need to strengthen not only what we have done, the cooperation and exchange of information between France and Belgium, but also with many other European partners and beyond.”

Ayrault meanwhile, said that the working relationship between the country’s intelligence agencies was already strong.