Terror threat ‘high’ this season, says Europol

Packed holiday beaches like this one are an EASY TARGET

Europe holiday warning: Terror threat ‘high’ says Europol with ‘real danger’ posed to EU

Although the number of attacks fell last year the authority said violent extremism continues to “flourish through the internet” and terrorism “poses a real and present danger to the EU”.

A newly released report on terrorism in the EU in 2018 by the continent-wide police agency based in The Hague said:

“The threat of terrorism in the EU has become much more complex in 2018.”

But Europol said many more jihadist attacks had been thwarted last year than in the previous 12 months.

EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said investigators have become more successful.

But, as the IRA once famously said, ‘You have to keep being lucky, we only have to be lucky once.’

The report published on Thursday described the threat of extremism on the continent as “heterogeneous and agile”.

Despite suffering significant territorial losses in Syria and Iraq, the so-called Islamic State still have a strong presence online.

The terror group preys on users to inspire them to carry out sickening attacks.

Is it time to drive Islam out of Europe?

In 2018, 13 people were killed in terrorist attacks while dozens more were injured.

According to Europol, the perpetrator in each case was motivated by Islamic extremism.

Most had acted alone and their links to organised movements remained unclear.

Psychological problems also played a role.

In total, member states reported 129 terrorist attacks in 2018, including 24 thwarted or failed ones.

Last year also saw a greater number of arrests of right-wing extremists – 44 compared to 20 in 2017.

There were 205 attacks in 2017, according to the report.

The report suggests that “extremists of different orientations increasingly consider violence as a legitimate means” of getting their point across.

Europol Director Catherine De Bolle said: “Increasing polarisation and an increase in extremist views are a concern for EU member states and Europol.”