Financial Times: Western Intelligence Agencies Hand Turkey Names of 5,000 People They Fear Attempting to Join al-Qaeda Linked Groups in Syria

Western Focus Turns to Homegrown “jihadis” as Terror Threat Grows

Western intelligence agencies have handed Turkish authorities the names of nearly 5,000 people they fear are attempting to travel to Syria to join al-Qaeda linked groups, in a stark illustration of the escalating terror threat posed by “homegrown jihadis”.

The number far exceeds the figure of 2,000-3,000 citizens already estimated to have travelled from Europe and the Americas to fight against the Syrian government. Security officials already fear the cohort could lay the groundwork for years of attempted terror attacks against the west on a level not seen since 9/11.

Counter-terrorism officials from EU countries and Turkey confirmed the size of the list to the Financial Times. An estimated 450 citizens have already travelled to Syria, alongside 700 from France and more than 300 from Germany. Turkey is the main transit point at issue.

The issue has jumped up the political agenda following three murders at a Belgian Jewish museum a fortnight ago, now believed to be the first instance of a “blowback” attack by “jihadis” returned from Syria.

 “This is the top issue now in EU relations with Turkey,” said one EU official. “Each member state has a [terror] watch list. All roads lead to the Turkish foreign ministry.”

The EU official’s statement came in reference to the Turkish government’s policy of turning the Turkish lands into a safe haven to the terrorists to be trained, armed and then sent to Syria to commit crimes there.

Western countries have realized the dangerous threats of terrorists flowing to Syria and started in a late move to work to prevent so-called European jihadis from traveling to Syria.    

Compiling a database of names of potential and current fighters has been one of the thorniest issues on which intelligence agencies – including many unused to working with each other – are trying to thrash out a solution.

In the UK, Whitehall security officials say there is now a recognition that it is an urgent pan-European problem due to the continent’s open border arrangements.

On Thursday, a group of nine European countries most affected by the threat held private talks in Brussels, security officials told the Financial Times. Senior ministers including UK Home Secretary Theresa May attended with their counterterror officials.

A Home Office spokesperson declined to comment on the details of the meeting.

Gilles de Kerchove, the EU’s top counter-terrorism official, confirmed that a group of some European countries was “working extremely closely together” to share information. “They have had meetings with Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey,” he said. “For them it is Syria, Syria, Syria Syria.”

Mr de Kerchove told the Financial Times earlier this week that Europe should brace itself for more attacks.

According to the Financial Times, US authorities have grown concerned too – and have been liaising closely with European intelligence agencies. Although only 70 Americans are thought to have gone to fight in Syria, visa-waiver programmes that allow Europeans from many countries to enter the US easily also make it vulnerable to “blowback” attacks.

Source: Financial Times

H.M