190 Dutch people joined militancy abroad: Netherlands
The Netherlands says approximately 190 Dutch people have joined militancy abroad, of which 35 have returned and 30 have been killed.
The Dutch Justice Ministry released the figures on Tuesday but did not reveal the destinations of the militants, The Associated Press reported.
Most are believed to have gone to Syria and Iraq, the news agency, however, said.
The ministry also maintained its terror threat level at "substantial," the second-highest.
According to the latest threat assessment, although there are no "concrete signs" of possible attacks, deadly terror incidents in the French capital Paris and the Danish capital Copenhagen, and a foiled plot in neighboring Belgium "underscore... the threat against Europe and therefore also against the Netherlands," it said.
On January 7, the Paris offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine were attacked, leaving 12 people dead. The shooting assault was carried out by al-Qaeda affiliates.
On February 14, one person was killed and three police officers wounded after a gunman with a background in criminal activities attacked a café hosting a debate attended by controversial Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks in Copenhagen. Hours later, the main synagogue of Copenhagen was attacked, leaving one person dead and two policemen injured.
Last month, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said as many as 10,000 Europeans could be fighting alongside terrorists in Iraq and Syria by the end of this year.
There are approximately 3,000 Europeans in conflict zones in Iraq and Syria today, and the number is expected to increase by the end of 2015, Valls said during an interview with French television channel, iTele, on March 8.
Terrorists with the Takfiri group ISIL, which currently controls parts of Iraq and Syria, have threatened to carry out attacks in Europe through different methods, including sending terrorists posed as refugees from the Middle East.
The militants fighting in Iraq and Syria may enter Turkey under the guise of refugees in order to travel to Germany and from there to other spots in Europe, a US intelligence report warned last year.
HN/MHB/AS
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