Berlin – Islamic State militants have slipped into Europe disguised as refugees, the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV) said on Friday, a day after security forces thwarted a potential IS attack in Berlin.
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Hans-Georg Maassen said the terrorist attacks in Paris last November had shown that Islamic State was deliberately planting terrorists among the refugees flowing into Europe.
“Then we have repeatedly seen that terrorists … have slipped in camouflaged or disguised as refugees. This is a fact that the security agencies are facing,” Maassen told ZDF television.
“We are trying to recognize and identify whether there are still more IS fighters or terrorists from IS that have slipped in,” he added.
The Berliner Zeitung newspaper cited Maassen on Friday as saying that the BfV had received more than 100 tip-offs that there were Islamic State fighters among the refugees currently staying in Germany.
German fears about an attack have risen since the Paris killings. On Thursday, German forces arrested two men suspected of links to Islamic State militants preparing an attack in the German capital.
Authorities also canceled a friendly international soccer match in Hanover last year and closed stations in Munich at New Year due to security concerns.
Maassen, however, warned against alarm.
“We are in a serious situation and there is a high risk that there could be an attack. But the security agencies, the intelligence services and the police authorities are very alert and our goal is to minimize the risk as best we can,” he said.
Good morning America, uh… I mean Germany. It took you quite long to figure that out.
Canada beware! PM Trudeau is allowing refugees to enter in droves. Do you think some of them are terrorists? The world is spinning out of control. Only Hashem can help us!
Seriously?! The spy agency just realized that? 5 months ago my 11 year old daughter said that’s exactly what isis might do. Actually isis announced that they would do that. In everyones haste and panic to show the world how inclusive they are to dejected Muslims they threw away their brains.
I could have told you this months ago
Wake up and smell the coffee…
And..don’t panic
“Maassen, however, warned against alarm.
“We are in a serious situation and there is a high risk that there could be an attack. But the security agencies, the intelligence services and the police authorities are very alert and our goal is to minimize the risk as best we can,” he said.