Interpol: 800,000 Migrants Ready To Head To EU

An estimated 800,000 migrants are waiting in Libya to cross into Europe and there is an increased possibility that terrorists will try to cross with them, a report by Interpol and Europol says.

The conclusions of the international policing groups have been seized on by Leave campaigners who want the UK to quit the EU.

The report states: "While a systematic link between migrant smuggling and terrorism is not proven, there is an increased risk that foreign terrorist fighters may use migratory flows to (re)enter the EU."

The report adds that the closures of some border in response to the migration crisis will lead to more widespread and sophisticated people smuggling operations.

It says: "It is expected that, in 2016, more than 90% of the migrants moving towards the EU will be facilitated by smugglers.

"Key migratory routes identified as main corridors for migrant smuggling are fluid and influenced by external factors like border controls.

"Migrant smuggling is a multinational business, with suspects originating from more than 100 countries."

UKIP MEP Steven Woolfe, who wants the UK to leave the EU, said the report's findings confirmed the security fears of former-MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove who says Britain would be safer outside the EU.

He said: "This joint report from Interpol and Europol demonstrates that 800,000 Libyans are queuing up to enter the EU.

"Intelligence says that it is only a matter of time before another terrorist attack occurs in Europe.

"Unless we vote to leave, we will be putting our national security at risk."

The report comes as another group, Human Rights Watch, said Islamic State has been carrying out widespread atrocities in Libya, including beheadings of dozens of residents accused by militants of being spies.

IS is thought to have between 2,000 and 6,000 fighters in Libya, after gaining a foothold amid the chaos that has engulfed the country over the past few years.

The report by the New York-based watchdog, which has spoken to dozens of people who have fled the country, recounts instances of "crucifixions" and floggings of men for acts such as smoking or listening to music.

Senior terrorism and counterterrorism researcher at HRW Letta Tayler, using an alternative acronym for the Islamic State group, said: "While the world's attention is focused on atrocities in Syria and Iraq, ISIS is also getting away with murder in Libya."