Returning jihadi fighters ‘pose risk’ to the EU

The expected rise in returned foreign fighters from Syria and Iraq is likely to strengthen domestic jihadist movements and magnify the threat posed to the EU, says Europol.

The EU police agency said there has been a sharp rise in arrests relating to jihadi terrorism across the union, from 169 in 2012 to 687 in 2015, rising further in 2016, to 718.

In its EU Terrorism Report 2017, Europol said just one person was arrested in Ireland in relation to jihadi terrorism in 2016 and that no attacks — attempted or completed — were carried out here.