The European Union's home affairs commissioner has warned that Europe faces a “huge risk of terrorist attacks" over the Christmas holiday period due to the fallout from the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Speaking on Tuesday, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told reporters: "With the war between Israel and Hamas, and the polarization it causes in our society, with the upcoming holiday season, there is a huge risk of terrorist attacks in the European Union."
The warning comes as French investigators are probing a fatal attack near the Eiffel Tower in Paris at the weekend.
Questions have been raised about the mental health of the suspect, who swore allegiance to the Islamic State armed group, before stabbing a German-Filipino tourist to death and injuring two other people with a hammer.
According to Johansson, "We saw [it happening] recently in Paris, unfortunately we have seen it earlier as well."
She spoke as EU interior ministers gathered in Brussels, but provided no details about any information that might have led to her warning.
Her office did not immediately respond to requests for details.
My doorstep interview before today’s @EUCouncil meeting with
— Ylva Johansson (@YlvaJohansson) December 5, 2023
EU Home Affairs Ministers in Brussels.
➡️ Counterterrorism
➡️ EUvsChildSexualAbuse
➡️ MigrationEU
Watch interview here:
➡️ https://t.co/vpXQxythju pic.twitter.com/pug1nUV2Wr
Fallout from conflict spreads to Europe
The fallout from Hamas’ attacks in southern Israel on 7 October – which killed about 1,200 people, and the ongoing Israeli military response that health officials in Gaza say has killed at least 15,890 Palestinians – has spread to Europe.
In recent weeks, several European capitals have witnessed tens of thousands of people staging pro-Palestinian rallies, but also marches in support of Israel and against rising antisemitism.
Johansson, whose brief includes security and immigration, said the European Commission will provide an additional €30 million to bolster security in vulnerable areas across the bloc, notably at places of worship.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sent her condolences to France at the weekend and said the Paris attack highlights “just how acute and how serious the threat posed by Islamist terrorism is currently in the EU.”
“The war in Gaza and Hamas’ terror are exacerbating this situation,” she told reporters.
Faeser said she had spoken with her counterparts from Austria, Belgium, France, Spain and Sweden about the risks.
“Our security agencies are working very closely together. We must keep a particularly close eye on the Islamist threats right now and take action against Islamist propaganda together with neighboring countries,” she added.
