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As many as 5,000 European ISIS fanatics have travelled to fight in Syria and Iraq. MORE than 1,500 jihadists fighting with ISIS in Syria and Iraq have returned to Europe with orders to “carry out attacks”, an EU report warned.

An estimated 5,000 European ISIS fanatics went to Syria and Iraq and 15 to 20 per cent of them died on the battlefield.

PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION IMAGES Jihadis are primed to attack Europe, an EU report warned

Around 30 to 35 per cent have returned with “specific missions”, while the other half  remained in the battle theatre – which amounted to between 2,000 and 2,500 Europeans.

This means as many as 1,750 may have returned, based on the percentages listed in the report which EU counter-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove will present to EU interior ministers on Friday.

The report said there were two types of ‘foreign terrorist fighters’ returning.

ALAMY ISIS fighters holding the Al-Qaeda flag with ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ written on it

ALAMY Around a third of the estimated 5,000 European jihadists have returned to Europe – some may have ‘orders to attack’

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS Earlier this year, three coordinated suicide bombings occurred in Belgium: two at Brussels Airport in Zaventem, and one at Maalbeek metro station in central Brussels

EPA Last month Belgium expressed concern that jihadists were increasingly returning to Europe

It warned: “It is important to share information on returnees who are already back in Europe, those that are in transit and … (those) still in the conflict zone.”

“There are largely two categories of returnees: those in the majority who will drift back and those who will be sent back on specific missions, which are of most concern.”