Extremist groups reportedly headed to Europe with 'plans to stage attacks'

Belgian intelligence services alerted their French counterparts of the possibility of the arrival of small groups of extremists from Syria in France and Belgium.

(Image credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

published 15 June 2016

French and Belgian authorities are on alert after learning that groups of extremists have reportedly departed from Syria and are headed to France and Belgium to possibly launch attacks, The Associated Press reports. Belgian intelligence alerted the French on Tuesday of the possible threat. At this point, authorities do not have any specific information about the extremists' reported plans. The fighters are believed to have left Syria for Europe about 10 days ago, and are apparently trying to reach Europe by boat through Turkey and Greece.

French authorities say they are remaining "very cautious" about the alert, because such reports are not uncommon. France is already on high alert after the Paris attacks last year, and thanks to the current threat of violence at the ongoing European Championship soccer tournaments. "We are still on level three, quite a high level of threat," Benoit Ramacker, spokesman for the Crisis Center, said. There are four levels of threat on the scale, and The Associated Press reports that a three means that "the threat is considered serious, possible, and probable."