THE Islamic State (ISIS) ‘Secret Service’ handpicked the Paris attackers and they have now set their sights on Britain.
The tight-knit unit, who mask their identity from even fellow militants, includes senior British ISIS fighters who are keen to bring the war to Europe.
Claude Moniquet, chief executive of the European Strategic Intelligence and Security Centre, said: ”At the beginning this group were just screening fighters and trying to eliminate infiltrators but over the last year they have been tasked with organising terrorist attacks in Europe.
“We think between June and September last year, a number of IS operatives — including those who attacked Paris – sneaked into Europe among the thousands of migrants.
“We don’t know the exact number, some people say it could be around 100, although that seems too high.
We think between June and September last year, a number of IS operatives — including those who attacked Paris – sneaked into Europe among the thousands of migrants
Claude Moniquet, European Strategic Intelligence
“Yet even if there is just 20 or 25, it’s still a large number. We believe they were selected and organised by the security service of Daesh.
“Most of the people are of European origin, they have gone to Syria and come back, but some of them are Iraqi and maybe Syrians.
“These men are older, aged in their 40s, and some of them could be members of the Iraqi special forces with a real expertise in weapons and explosives.”
Mr Moniquet said intelligence reports suggested ISIS had cells in Austria, Germany, Netherlands and potentially Hungary and Greece.
As far as Britain is concerned, he said: “The mastermind of the Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, went to the UK shortly beforehand and met people in London and Birmingham.
“We believe he was a member of the Daesh secret service.
“There is a clear will by IS to do something big in London and the UK is a primary target but it seems to be much more complicated by the fact Britain as an island has greater controls than the mainland.”
According to a former German jihadist who returned from fighting with IS in Syria last July, Britain and Germany are next on the terror group’s hit list.
Henry Sarfo, 27, who is being held by authorities in the German city of Bremen is now repentant and has spoken out against the group.
In a letter sent to BBC Radio 4 last month he said: “I was asked twice (to carry out attacks in Europe).
“The first time was at the beginning, two Frenchmen from the secret service asked me and another German if we were willing to return to Europe to carry out attacks.
“The second time I was asked by secret service members from Britain and Germany.
“Their faces were covered. They asked me if I was willing to go back or if I knew anyone from Germany or the UK who would be ready for attacks.
“They said they would be financially supported and would be sorted out with equipment.”
He added: “They’ve (IS) said that France is easy for them because they have enough people living undercover there with clean records but they said there was not enough people in Britain and Germany.”