New 'home-grown' jihadist threat to West as radicalized citizens join Syrian rebels

A recent report has revealed a potential jihadist threat to the United States and the European countries with increasing rate of Westerners traveling to Syria to join the civilian rebels to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

The Washington Times reports that Syrian rebels have been attacking Shiite shrines and threaten Christian monasteries with full support of individuals travelling to Syria via Turkey.

Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Matthew G. Olsen said that Syria has become the predominant jihadist battlefield in the world. There are individuals traveling to Syria becoming trained and further radicalized.

Olsen has pointed out to these individuals returning as part of a global jihadist movement to Western Europe and to the United States.

The majority of the participants are from nine European countries, most of which already have significant internal increases in their own Muslim populations, the report added.

European countries are making surveillance efforts and contingency plans are being increased at a significant rate.