Interpol identifies 173 IS fighters planning attacks in Europe

International police agency Interpol recently identified a list of 173 Islamic State (IS) fighters planning attacks in Europe.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – International police agency Interpol recently identified a list of 173 Islamic State (IS) fighters planning attacks in Europe, sources revealed on Friday.

According to Interpol, the IS fighters were believed to have received training in the Middle East to participate in suicide attacks in Europe.

The list was compiled by US intelligence via information received “through trusted channels” during operations against the extremists in Syria and Iraq.

Interpol fears the militants, “operating alone” in Europe, are seeking revenge as IS collapses in the Middle East.

The list was sent to EU intelligence sources to determine if they “have any details on the individuals,” though their presence in Europe could not be verified.

Interpol said the militants “may have been trained to build and position improvised explosive devices in order to cause serious deaths and injuries.”

“It is believed that they can travel internationally, to participate in terrorist activities,” the international police agency added.

Identification cards were created for the militants so each EU member country in the Interpol network “could integrate the data with local databases.”

The suspects on the list were thought to have “manifested willingness to commit a suicidal attack or martyrdom,” a note circulated globally by Interpol revealed.

A spokesman for Interpol explained the international police agency was committed to providing information “on wanted terrorists and criminals.”

“The purpose of sending these alerts and updates is to ensure that vital policing information is made available when and where it is needed,” the spokesman said.

In 2015, the UN estimated there were 20,000 foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria, 4,000 of whom were from Europe.