Police and anti-terrorism investigators have been alerted to the possibility that small groups of extremists have left Syria for France and Belgium with plans to stage attacks, a French security official said.
Belgian intelligence services sent a note to French counterparts about the possible groups, and it was sent to police across France on Tuesday, the official said. French authorities remain ‘very cautious’ about the information because they receive such notes routinely, the official said.
The official said the information does not change the government’s overall understanding of the threat.
France is already under high alert because Islamic State extremists targeted Paris last year and have threatened violence during the Euro 2016 football tournament.
Belgium’s Derniere Heure tabloid reported on Wednesday that Belgium’s anti-terror office has warned police that fighters with access to weapons could have left Syria about 10 days ago bound for Belgium and France. It was the latest of several recent reports that fighters from Syria could pose an imminent threat.
The paper, which said it had obtained an alert message, said fighters travelling without passports were believed to be trying to reach Europe by boat via Turkey and Greece. A Brussels shopping centre, an American fast-food chain and police could be among their targets.
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