ISIS terrorists are arriving in Europe in the guise of refugees

Fears have been expressed in certain quarters that ISIS is 'spreading like cancer' and terrorists in the guise of refugees are arriving in Europe. This has been revealed by a US General who is the Commander of NATO's European unit. In his opinion, the arrival of thousands of migrants in to the continent is 'masking the movement' of violent extremists, criminals and foreign fighters.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 1 March 2016.

The US Air Force General has informed the Senate Armed Services Committee that these dangerous elements heightened the potential for a terror attack. Within this mix of people from different background, ISIS is 'taking advantage of paths of least resistance and is a threat to European nations as well as the United States.
The General has asked for more U.S. forces to be permanently based in Europe because it is facing threats from a more aggressive Russia as well as the ISIS. His requirement is for Army troops that could be ready to respond quickly to any crisis or military need. The Pentagon has decreased the number of US forces in Europe over the last several years, and has, instead, shifted focus to the Asia Pacific while fighting continues in the Middle East. However, in view of the increasing threats from Russia and ISIS questions are being raised about those decisions.
It is estimated that about 6,000 foreign fighters have left to join the fight in Syria and Iraq, and out of that, some 1,500 of them have returned to Europe. As per information of the International Organization for Migration, almost 130,000 migrants - or, more than 2,000 each day - have reached Europe by sea since the beginning of this year and 418 have died in the attempts, most drowning in the cold, rough waters. This means that the number of arrivals in the first two months of 2016 is more than 11 times as many as the same period last year.


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Migrants clash with police at Greece-Macedonia border

Hundreds of refugees stranded at the Greece-Macedonia border tried to break through a border fence and enter Macedonia from Greece, where more than 7,000 people are stranded. The situation provoked clashes and anger mounted over barriers that had been put up to prevent entry of migrants flooding into Europe. This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 1 March 2016.

There wre clear signs of deepening divisions within Europe as German Chancellor Angela Merkel lashed out at Austria and Balkan states for introducing tight limits on migrant entries - that left Greece stuck with refugee boats continuing to arrive from Turkey. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov has warned that once Austria reaches its cap of a maximum 37,500 migrants transiting through this year, the refugee route through the Balkans will have to close. Macedonian police had to fire tear gas at the border as some 300 migrants forced their way through a Greek police cordon and raced towards a railway track between the two countries. There was a stampede and at least 30 people, many of them children, had to be given first aid in the stampede. This has been informed by the charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The protest took place several hours after Macedonia allowed just 300 Syrians and Iraqis to cross.


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Migrant crisis in Greece - millions more migrants expected

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of Greece has remarked that Greece is turning 'into a warehouse of souls' as more countries close their borders to migrants. He spoke out ahead of EU talks aimed at reducing the flow of refugees through the Balkans and as Germany was warned to expect 2.5million more migrants in the next four years.
This is reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 25 February 2016.

Greece, at present, is the arrival point for nearly four fifths of the huge flow of people fleeing war and poverty who are arriving in Europe. Most of them take the route via Turkey and this influx is turning out to be the worst crisis of its kind to face Europe for more than half a century.
Already one hundred thousand migrants have arrived this year and more than a million last year - these figures are as per the International Organization for Migration (IOM). And, with another 3.6 million refugees on the way, the record €19.4 billion budget surplus that the government took in last year in taxes will soon be eroded.
Therefore, ahead of the meeting, Tsipras has threatened not to cooperate with future EU agreements on the migrant crisis if the burden was not fairly shared among member states. Athens is seething over a series of border restrictions along the migrant trail to northern and western Europe. This has resulted in a bottleneck in Greece, the main entry point to Europe.
Hence, Tsipras has made it clear to the Greek parliament that Greece will no longer agree to any deal if the burdens and responsibilities are not shared proportionally. He has added that Greece cannot be turned into a warehouse of souls.


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At lesst 44 migrants die and dozens missin while crossing over from Turkey to Greece

It was yet another case of death at sea while trying to flee from the hell of the troubled Middle East, especially Syria and Iraq. At least 44 migrants have lost their lives and dozens are reported as missing after their boats sank on their way from Turkey to Greece. 20 0f the dead are children. This is as per reports of coast guard officials of Greece and Turkey.
This has also been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 22 January 2016.

The Greek coastguard have rescued 74 people after two boats ran into trouble off the Greek Aegean islands of Farmakonisi and Kalolimnos. They have recovered the bodies of 17 children, 17 women and 10 men. The search operation was supported by a helicopter from EU border agency Frontex. Search was continuing for dozens of people still missing from the boat that capsized off Kalolimnos.
In addition, the Turkish coastguard have indicated that they had found the bodies of three children after a third boat sank near the seaside resort of Didim.
These people were fleeing from the war and misery in the Middle East and elsewhere and, many of them are Syrian refugees. They keep arriving in thousands from Turkey in flimsy boats braving the harsh conditions and dangers. In the process, at least 113 migrants have died in the Aegean already this year, as revealed by the International Organization for Migration. It has estimated that some 37,000 migrants have reached Greece by sea so far this year - they hope to begin life afresh in Germany, Sweden and elsewhere in the European Union.

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Hungary closes borders with Croatia to check entry of migrants

Hungary has taken a decision to close down its border with Croatia for which it has constructed a razor-wire fence – the intention is to check the free flow of migrants. Elaborating, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has clarified that normal border checkpoints between the two countries will remain open but, inspections would be tightened.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 15 October 2015.

Foreign Minister has added that stricter controls would be introduced so as to block illegal border crossings. Croatia is a member of the European Union, but, unlike Hungary it is not part of the Schengen zone of passport-free travel and migrants could still apply for asylum in Hungary at two border transit zones.
So far, over 383,000 migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia have entered Hungary. Nearly all of them were headed for Germany and other destinations further west in the EU. Hungary had clamped down on its border with Serbia with a similar fence on Sept. 15. As a result, migrants have been taking a detour through Croatia to reach Hungary.
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Syrian migrants try to enter EU via Hungary and avoid the Mediterranean route

In order to prevent infiltration of migrants into its country through the Serbia borders, the government of Hungary is considering use of its army to secure the southern border. Migrants are pouring in from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia and any decision to send troops to the frontier would have to be approved by Budapest's parliament.
This has been reported on foxnews.com dated 26 August 2015.

The flow of migrants needs to be better controlled and Hungary is preparing laws to make it a crime to cut through the fence or to enter Hungary illegally and is increasing the penalties for human traffickers. Unless deterrent actions are taken, many European cities could face unsustainable situations.
Hungary is also trying to construct a 13-foot-high fence to keep out the migrants, many of whom are from Syria and the large numbers that are crossing the border could become EU’s worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II.
This Balkan corridor for migrants is becoming more and more popular because using this route, the migrants avoid the dangerous boat crossings in the Mediterranean from North Africa to Italy.
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Bulgaria has kept out migrants from Syria and Iraq but, France and Britain are struggling

It is certainly strange that Bulgaria has succeeded in preventing migrants from crowding its streets while France and Britain are struggling to contain the influx of migrants from Iran, Iraq, Syria and other places. They have installed a super-fence that blocks thousands of migrants who are hoping for a new life in Europe.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 3 August 2015.

Calais is trying its best to prevent thousands of migrants from storming the Eurotunnel in their desperation to get into Britain, and the barriers around the ferry and they continue to breach the Eurotunnel terminals in Northern France.
However, Bulgaria has constructed a new section of fence to seal its entire border and it appears to be impregnable. As a result, the local authorities are hoping to deter ruthless criminal gangs from exploiting families who are fleeing from the war and terror in Syria, Iraq and North Africa and trying to enter Europe via Bulgaria.
The fence is monitored 24/7 by armed guards who are stationed at strategic points along its current 50-mile length and the Border police look into Turkey from watchtowers with binoculars.
As explained by the Bulgarian Border Police chief, their operation has stopped more than 500 migrants from crossing in the last month alone. Half of them were arrested by the Turkish police and the remaining were sent back. The migrants want to enter other European countries like Britain and make use of Bulgaria as a place of transit.
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Migrants ready to pay £1,200 to people smugglers for trip across Channel in UK-registered car

Desperate migrants from mid-East countries like Iran, Iraq and Syria trying to enter Britain ae willing to shell out £1,200 to people smugglers for a trip across Channel in UK-registered cars. It seems cars have been kept in readiness and waiting for the correct passengers.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 31 July 2015.

The cars are hidden in a garage not far from the French ferry port of Calais – there are 20 cars with UK number plates and the address is a closely kept secret known only to a select few like local police and the mayor of the small town of Teteghem. It is here that a makeshift camp has been built for illegal migrants from Iran, Iraq and Syria waiting to be smuggled across the Channel to England.
Teteghem was initially a meeting point for migrants who would reach northern France seven years ago. At that time, some of them set up tents by its lake. Soon, however, the numbers began to increase into hundreds and traffickers came on the scene to make a financial killing.
These people smugglers are from a big criminal organization and are armed with guns and knives. In case of obstruction by the police, they threaten the law.
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British Navy flagship HMS Bulwark rushes to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean Sea

Nearly half a million refugees are assembling in Libya to try and flee to Europe on the migrant boats that have killed thousands already. Thousands of them have already left in boats are believed to be stranded in the Mediterranean Sea.
This has been revealed by senior Royal Navy officers who are leading Britain's Mediterranean rescue mission off the Libyan coast.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 7 June 2015.

British flagship HMS Bulwark is reported to be on its way and is speeding across the Mediterranean to help rescue thousands of migrants who are stranded at sea having after having undertaken the dangerous journey from Libya to Europe.
In the opinion of HMS Bulwark's Captain, there are from 450,000 to 500,000 migrants in Libya who are waiting at the border and this is not going to stop in the near future.
The HMS Bulwark is a 19,000 tonne ship and it has on board more than 80 British personnel. It is moving at 15 knots and it has two Merlin helicopters flying ahead on surveillance missions – it can, and has, spotted another migrant boat.
Not just HMS Bulwark but there are 11 other vessels on their way to carry out a major rescue operation – it seems the migrants had set off in order to take advantage of the good weather.
Some of them have been rescued by the German Navy frigate Hessen and are at at an unspecified location in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Human traffickers murder at least 500 migrants in Malta

It has been reported that human traffickers have murdered at least 500 migrants by ramming their boat into a boat that was overloaded with migrants from Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Sudan migrants nzherald.co.nz – they had set out from Damietta in Egypt on September 6, and were forced to change boats several times by the traffickers in the curse of their journey towards Europe.
The incidents has been described by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as "the worst shipwreck in years". The horrific details of the shipwreck that took place near Malta, have been narrated to IOM by a couple of survivors.
These gory details would indicate that it was certainly not the worst shipwreck in years, not an accident by any stretch of imagination but a mass murder carried out by criminals without scruples or any respect for human life.
Two surviving Palestinians plucked from the water by a freighter have told the IOM that about 500 passengers had been on one vessel that was wrecked on purpose by people smugglers.
According to the two, the traffickers were on a separate boat and ordered the migrants to board a smaller vessel, which many of the migrants feared was too small to hold them. When they refused to comply, the furious traffickers rammed their boat until it capsized.
As per the Maltese armed forces, seven people, all unconscious and suffering from hypothermia, had been rescued and flown to a hospital on Crete.
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