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Polish intelligence chief says EU 'solidarity' necessary over refugees

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 04.09.2015 09:21
The head of Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) has said it is the country's duty “to show a minimum level of solidarity” with EU countries struggling with an exodus of refugees.
Refugees, chiefly from Syria, cross the border between Macedonia and Greece, near the town of Gevgelija. EPA/VALDRIN XHEMAJ DostawcaRefugees, chiefly from Syria, cross the border between Macedonia and Greece, near the town of Gevgelija. EPA/VALDRIN XHEMAJ Dostawca

“Such is the cost of democracy,” General Dariusz Łuczak told the Rzeczpospolita daily.

“The key matter is to ensure that these immigrants are carefully checked,” he added.

Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz said on Thursday that Poland is prepared to reconsider upping the number of refugees accepted (from 2,200), but that it will not take on “automatic quotas,” that are handed down from Brussels.

To date, Poland has pledged to provide asylum to Syrian and Eritrean citizens.

According to the UN's relief agency UNHCR, over 300,000 '“refugees and migrants” have tried to reach Europe across the Mediterranean this year, and 2,500 are believed to have drowned while making the journey.

Terrorist threat low in Poland

Meanwhile, Łuczak noted that comparatively speaking, the threat of a terrorist attack in Poland is low.

At the moment, Poland is still safe and there is no reason to raise the level of the threat of a terrorist attack,” he said.

However, he noted there are some “worrying signs” at present, and that the ABW is investigating several dozen people.

“Firstly, it's about Poles who a dozen or so years ago went to Germany or Norway, where they obtained dual citizenship and embraced Islam.

“And from there they have gone to fight for the Islamic State.”

“Secondly, there are also Poles here in Poland who we have suspicions about or even certainty that they fought on the side of the Islamic State or were on its territory.

“Thirdly, there are foreigners with legal permits to reside on Polish territory.

“They live outside centres for refugees. Some of them depart for the territory of the Islamic State, then come back,” he said. (nh)

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