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British Takfiris change routes to join ISIL

A British ISIL member is seen in Syria (Vice News)

Britons traveling to Syria to join the ISIL Takfiri terrorists have switched routes and now travel south via Italy and across the Mediterranean to North Africa to avoid detection.

Fearing detection at UK airports, the would-be recruits cross the English Channel by ferry, travel on to Italy, and then to Tunisia before finally crossing into Libya, parts of which are held by ISIL, the Guardian quoted sources monitoring the terrorists’ movement in a Saturday report.

“We are seeing more and more taking the route across the Mediterranean to Libya; it’s becoming established. When they get there they are looked after,” a source said.

Normally, the militants are believed to favor joining the Takfiris through Turkey, which neighbors Syria and Iraq.

Earlier in the day, reports surfaced of Turkish authorities deporting a French national who was detained at an Istanbul airport over suspicions that he planned to join the Takfiris in Syria.  

 Third ISIL stronghold

As Libya has become ISIL’s third largest stronghold, it has apparently turned into a new launchpad for those attempting to join a the fight against the Syrian and Iraqi governments.

With members from several Western countries, the Takfiri group controls parts of land in Syria and Iraq, where its members have been carrying out horrific acts of violence, including public decapitations and crucifixions, against all communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.

Recently, ISIL has boosted presence in Libya following a chaos in the country that has given rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias.

On Thursday, the Takfiris took control of the Libyan coastal city of Sirte, the home city of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, after defeating troops loyal to the country’s unofficial Tripoli administration. 

The alleged ISIL militants parade through the streets of the Libyan coastal city of Sirte on February 18, 2015. (AFP)

Libya has two rival governments vying for control of the country, with one faction controlling Tripoli, and the other, Libya’s internationally recognized government, governing the cities of Bayda and Tobruk.

According to a recent report, ISIL is also sending terrorists into Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.

According to the Libyan government adviser, Abdul Basit Haroun,  ISIL uses migrant boats to send its members into Europe “as the European police don’t know who is from ISIL and who is a normal refugee”.

Taking the new route to join the Takfiri fight could raise concerns as it could facilitate transfer of British nationals into Iraq and Syria.

Recruiting British kids

Recently, a series of mobile phone applications have come under scrutiny as they have been reportedly hijacked by the Takfiris to persuade British children to join ISIL.

According to the British Home Office, such developments confirm the fact that police and security services are “losing capabilities” to keep track of the Takfiri groups’ activities.

“Rapid changes in technology, and particularly the increasing importance of internet communications, means that communications data is not always available when it is needed,” said British Home secretary Theresa May.

SRK/NT/AS


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