Brussels, December 05, 2023, The Europe Today: EU member states are facing a “huge risk of terrorist attacks” over the holiday season due to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said on Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels, Johansson referred to a Saturday’s knife attack in Paris, where one German tourist was killed and two people were injured. The attacker reportedly pledged allegiance to the so-called “Islamic State” (IS) and expressed anguish about Muslims dying, notably in the Palestinian territories.
He had also been under close psychological surveillance for mental health issues.
“With the war between Israel and Hamas and the polarization it causes in our society, with the upcoming holiday season, there is a huge risk of terrorist attacks in the European Union,” Johansson said.
“We saw [it happening] recently in Paris, unfortunately, we have seen it earlier as well,” Johansson added. She provided no details about information that might have led to her warning.
