Watch how more than 200 terror convicts are expected to walk free by 2020

  • 6 years ago
France, which has been struck repeatedly by IS fighters and sympathisers, will free 57 inmates, which is about half its current population of terrorism convicts. In Britain, 25 inmates are due for release - fully three-quarters of its terrorism convicts. In Belgium, 80 acknowledged foreign fighters already are free and as many as 44 others will be joining them. In Spain, 21 of 34 returning extremists already were free as of late last year. And in Bosnia and Kosovo, every jailed foreign fighter will go free. In just those countries alone, the total runs to more than 200, according to the AP's count. And the actual number is undoubtedly higher because not every country releases data. About 12,000 Europeans left to fight with the Islamic State group (IS) and al-Qaida. About a third of those are now believed to be home, mostly living freely. Some are awaiting trial, but most never faced serious charges due to insufficient evidence. Most of the convicts have served their sentences. Terrorism prison sentences in Europe until very recently averaged about six years, compared with 13 years in the United States, according to Europol data. Germany, which had nearly 1,000 residents make jihadi trips but has not released any comprehensive figures on convictions or releases.

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