Isil exploiting migrant routes to smuggle jihadists back to Britain using fake documents

From The Telegraph

Isil jihadists are exploiting the migrant crisis to smuggle terrorists into Europe with fake passports they can then use to travel to the UK, British intelligence officials fear.

They are mainly travelling on fake Syrian or Iraqi passports which are now so sophisticated it is almost impossible to distinguish between genuine refugees and terror suspects.

It is feared sleeper cells are being established in the UK and across Europe having been sent back by their Isil commanders fully trained and with attack orders. The strategy is being run out of Isil’s Syrian stronghold in Raqqa where would-be recruits are briefed and handed new identities.

It also means suspects who were under watch by the intelligence agencies suddenly vanish.

It came as one of the EU’s most senior officials disclosed that six in 10 migrants arriving in Europe are economic migrants with no right to asylum. Frans Timmermans, the first vice president of the European Commission, said that the majority of those coming to the EU are not fleeing war or persecution and that they should be deported.

Robert Fico, the Slovakian prime minister, on Tuesday declared the EU is committing a “ritual suicide” by letting so many migrants in to the continent.

A senior British intelligence official said: “Islamic State is skilfully exploiting the migrant crisis to smuggle terror cells from Syria into major European countries such as the UK. Jihadists travel to Raqqa to meet up with Isil commanders, where they receive training and new passports. They then make their way back to Europe posing as migrants with new identities, making it virtually impossible for security officials to detect potential terrorists among those fleeing persecution.”

Bernard Cazeneuve, the French interior minister, warned on Monday that Isil has formed an entire “industry” out of making fake passports using documents stolen in Iraq, Syria and Libya.

The US intelligence agencies fear the terror group has acquired thousands of blank Syrian passports and at least one passport printing machine after taking over government offices in the war-torn country.