Alert Status Regarding Terrorist Threats in Europe Continues

The alarming situation in European countries continues following the attacks two weeks ago in Paris, as well as arrests and police operations in various countries. On Monday, EU foreign ministers are set to meet to discuss increasing cooperation against terrorism. The foreign ministers of EU member states will gather on January 18 in Brussels, Belgium, to negotiate on enhancing collaboration regarding issues such as the return of radicalized citizens from Iraq and Syria to the continent. On February 12, next month, EU leaders will hold a special meeting on combating terrorism. In Brussels, the main headquarters of EU institutions, five individuals have been charged with participating in a terrorist organization following a police anti-terror operation in the city of Verviers. CNN reported, citing Eric Van der Sypt, the federal prosecutor of Belgium, that the terrorist organization in Verviers intended to attack police officers. Meanwhile, two individuals are also detained in France after attempting to enter Italy. In a police operation in Belgium on Thursday, two people were killed. AFP reports that a person named Abdelhamid Abaaoud, whom security agencies consider the mastermind behind the plot to kill police forces, remains at large and has not yet been arrested. Additionally, arrests have occurred in Greece, with the Belgian prosecutor's office stating they are seeking extradition and interrogation of one of them. In Germany, police have prevented a rally by the group 'Pegida' (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West) due to 'terrorist threats.' The Pegida group previously confirmed the cancellation of their rally on their Facebook page, stating that terrorist threats were directed at key figures of the group. A French court also prevented a rally by a group accused of promoting Islamophobia on Sunday. Security and police organizations in EU countries are monitoring individuals returning from battles with the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, who may be planning and attempting to carry out terrorist operations. Several EU countries, including France, the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands, are part of a US-led coalition conducting airstrikes against extremist Islamists in Iraq.