Spanish, EU officials urge radicalized flight passengers be monitored
Xinhua, December 1, 2015 Adjust font size:
Spain's Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz and the European Union (EU) Counterterrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove on Monday urged flight passengers suspected of belonging to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) be registered and monitored.
Diaz and De Kerchove said they hoped the European Parliament will pass a bill requiring registration of potentially radicalized passengers before the end of the year.
The Passenger Name Record (PNR) is an initiative that has not been approved yet by the European Parliament because of issues of personal privacy. De Kerchove said it was an "indispensable tool" that should be adopted.
Diaz emphasized Spain had suffered terrorism in the past, adding: "unity is needed to defeat terrorism."
De Kerchove pointed out EU countries have challenges to face such as "guaranteeing citizens' safety, preserving freedom of movement between EU countries and condemning thoughts that link immigration and asylum with terrorism."
He also highlighted the importance of the European intelligence services working together in order to exchange data and better control borders.
Diaz said during Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's term, a total of 170 extremists were arrested.
On Saturday, two men suspected of trying to recruit people for the IS and a woman ready to leave for Syria were arrested in Barcelona. Enditem