Survey: Europeans Fear Refugees Will Heighten Terror Threat

Europe is on edge after a spate of terrorist attacks in Germany and France last month. The worst of these occurred in Nice, France, when a 19 tonne truck was deliberately driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day, killing 84 people and injuring over 300 more. Germany had to deal with several incidents soon afterwards, including an axe attack carried out by an Afghan refugee on a train in Würzburg and a suicide bombing outside a wine bar in Ansbach. In that case, the bomber was identified as a Syrian refugee who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

Shortly before the attack in Nice, Pew Research released a report revealing that Europeans fear the wave of refugees will result in more terrorism. In eight out of 10 nations surveyed, at least half of respondents believed that the refugee influx would make terrorism more likely. Concern was highest in Hungary where 76 percent of people felt refugees would result in more terror. In Germany and France, where the recent attacks occurred, levels of concern were at 61 and 46 percent respectively.