UN official warns danger as foreign terrorist fighters return home or relocate

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- A UN official has warned that foreign terrorist fighters, who are returning home or being relocated in third countries as a result of major military defeats of the Islamic State (IS), pose a global threat.

"There are at least 5,600 fighters from 33 countries who have returned home. Many returnees are very well trained and equipped to carry out attacks in their own countries; others hope to radicalize and recruit new followers to their cause; there is a number of those who have rejected terrorist ideologies and pose no threat to society," Vladimir Voronkov, UN undersecretary-general for counter-terrorism, told the Security Council on Tuesday.

"This is a truly global challenge that demands an urgent and concerted multilateral response," he said.

At one stage over 40,000 foreign terrorist fighters from more than 110 countries may have traveled to join terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq, Voronkov noted.

As the IS has suffered great losses on the battlefield in Syria and Iraq, a significant number of terrorists are trying to relocate to countries such as Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan, he said.

UN member states need to enhance cooperation and exchange of information, develop effective border controls and strengthen their criminal justice systems, in accordance with the rule of law and human rights standards, suggested Voronkov.

Returning foreign terrorist fighters pose an enormous challenge with no easy solution, he said, adding that full compliance with international law is vital to combat the threat.

"Ultimately, addressing the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters requires addressing the underlying conditions that are conducive to young men and women being lured by violent extremism."

There is an urgent need for governments and security agencies to collaborate far more effectively in fighting terrorism, while respecting human rights, he said. Enditem