Islamic State militants ‘smuggled to Europe’

Smugglers hide IS militants on boats filled with migrants, Abdul Basit Haroun says

Islamic State (IS) fighters are being smuggled into Europe by gangs in the Mediterranean, a Libyan official has told the BBC.

Government adviser Abdul Basit Haroun said smugglers were hiding IS militants on boats filled with migrants.

He based his claim on conversations with boat owners in parts of North Africa controlled by the militants.

He alleged that IS was allowing them to continue their operations in exchange for 50% of their income.

The UN estimates that 60,000 people have already tried to cross the Mediterranean this year.

IS operates in several parts of Libya, including the eastern city of Derna

More than 1,800 people are feared to have died making the journey in often overcrowded and unseaworthy boats in 2015 – a 20-fold increase on the same period in 2014.

‘Not scared’

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 live Investigates, Mr Haroun said IS used the boats “for their people who they want to send to Europe, as the European police don’t know who is from IS and who is a normal refugee or not”.

The militants often sat separately from the other migrants and were not scared of the crossing, he said, adding that they were “for IS – 100%”.

Mr Haroun added that IS allowed boat owners to operate – but demanded a 50% cut of whatever they made from each ship.

BBC