North Africa potential launchpad for terror attacks: Italy

Rome Nov 28 (IANS/AKI) North Africa risks becoming a haven for jihadists but also a potential launchpad for terrorist attacks while the Balkans region also poses a threat Italy s Interior Minister Marco Minniti said on Tuesday.

"The danger exists that North Africa can become a refuge (for terrorists) and not just a transit point but a base from which to launch attacks.

"The Balkans are also a hive of radicalisation and have produced a high number of (jihadist) foreign fighters " he said during a speech here that assessed the terrorist threat in the wake of the Islamic State jihadist group s recent military defeat in Iraq and Syria spearheaded by the international coalition against IS.

"After IS s military defeat there is the very high risk of a terrorist response. The foreign fighters are fleeing and heading home under their own steam " Minniti said in the address at Rome s advanced police training academy.

"The easiest routes are the ones taken by migrants... maximum international cooperation is needed " he warned.

--IANS/AKI
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