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Europol to Track Terrorists at Refugee Camps in Greece | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Across the EU, barely 2,000 people have been moved under the EU refugee relocation scheme, while more than a million arrived as refugees in Europe last year (AFP Photo/Yannis Kolesidis)


Athens – A team of anti-terror experts from European police agency Europol is expected to arrive at Greece by the end of August to track extremists or ISIS member among the migrants stuck in the country.

A source from Greek police reported that this comes as part of the permanent cooperation between Greek authorities, their European counterparts and Europol.

Since 2015, Greece received a large number of refugees and migrants, especially Syrians, hoping to head to northern Europe, the source added.

In July, head of German intelligence said that there are tangible indications that 17 persons belonging to ISIS had entered claiming they were refugees. He added that two of them took part in the Stade de France attack in November 13.

The Europol team will include 50 European police officers headed by a Dutch officer. They are due to arrive to Athens on August 20, according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

Greek officers will be tasked with identifying individuals who could be undergoing a process of radicalization.

Since the Balkan route to northern Europe has been cut-off, Greece hosted over 47,000 refugees in camps, most of which are Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans.

Up till now, Europol’s anti-terror controls have concentrated on the “hotspot” migrant registration camps on the Greek islands near Turkey, rather than the mainland.

The number of migrants crossing from Turkey dropped sharply after the deal between the EU and Ankara which does not allow new arrivals to leave the islands, or sends them back to Turkey.

Kathimerini reported that Europol initiative will begin at the end of August and will include strict check-ups to determine possible terrorists from Syria and Iraq.