The European Union?s counter-terror chief estimates that the bloc is now host to ?more than 50,000? radical Islamists.
Gilles de Kerchove, the European Union?s Counter-Terrorism Co-ordinator, revealed the startling new figures in an interview with El Mundo.
?The United Kingdom has identified 20,000 to 35,000 radicals,? said the Belgian official ? although he later clarified that he meant to put the upper end of that estimate at 25,000.
?Of these, 3,000 are worrying for MI5, and of those 500 are under constant and special attention.
?France has 17,000. Spain many less, but more than 5,000, I suppose. In Belgium, almost 500 have been to Syria, and there are around 2,000 radicals or more.
?I wouldn?t like to put a concrete figure on it, but [in Europe] tens of thousands, more than 50,000.
Counter-Terror Chief: Europe Home to 'More than 50,000' Islamic Radicals â?? With Up To 25,000 in UK