The European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Ylva Johansson, stated that there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks in European countries during the upcoming Christmas holidays.
This is reported by the Associated Press.
The European Commissioner links the threats with the situation in the Middle East, in particular with the ongoing hostilities between Israel and the Hamas organization.
Given the war between Israel and Hamas and the polarization it is causing in societoes, as well as the upcoming holiday season, there is a huge risk of terrorist attacks in the European Union, she told reporters in Brussels.
The recent terrorist attack in Paris
The warning came amid a French investigation into last weekend’s deadly attack by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. A man, who supports the Islamic State, stabbed a German-Filipino tourist and wounded two more people with a hammer.
Unfortunately, things like that had already happened before, the EU Commissioner admitted.
Reaction from EU
Johansson added that the European Commission will allocate an additional EUR 30 million ($32.5 million) to strengthen security in vulnerable areas.
Commenting on the terrorist attack in Paris, German Interior Minister Nancy Faser expressed condolences to France. According to her, this attack emphasizes “how acute and serious the threat from Islamist terrorism is now in the EU.”
The head of the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs also added that the war in the Gaza Strip and the terror of Hamas militants “are worsening this situation.”
Threats monitored in Europe
Faser said she had spoken to her colleagues in Austria, Belgium, France, Spain, and Sweden about the existing risks.
“Our security agencies cooperate very closely. We must now pay particular attention to Islamist threats and, together with neighboring countries, take measures against Islamist propaganda,” the German minister said.
