The men were found at a transit camp for refugees in the Austrian city of Salzburg, near the German border.
(
AFP/Getty Images
)
Two suspected Isis militants believed to have links to the Paris attacks have been found posing as refugees in Austria.
The two men were found in a transit camp for asylum seekers in Salzburg at the weekend, reportedly carrying fake Syrian passports after travelling from territory held by the so-called Islamic State.
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Austria’s Kronen Zeitung reported that the suspects are French, with Algerian or Pakistani heritage, and were awaiting orders for further terror attacks.
They are believed to have entered Europe via Greece and travelled along the Western Balkan route used by hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Africa.
Austria: Hundreds of refugees arrive at German border
It is the same method used by at least two of the Isis militants who killed 130 people in Paris last month to reach their target.
Men carrying forged passports in the names of Ahmad al-Mohammad and M al-Mahmod reached the Greek island of Leros together on 3 October and were tracked through countries including Croatia, Hungary and Austria before entering France.
They blew themselves up with Frenchman Bilal Hadfi at the Stade de France.
Robert Holzleitner, from the Salzburg public prosecutor’s office, said the latest suspects arrested near the German border were suspected of “participation in a terrorist organisation” and could be connected to the attacks on 13 November.
In pictures: Paris attacks
Show all 25
In pictures: Paris attacks
1/25 Paris attacks
French police with protective shields walk in line near the Bataclan concert hall
Reuters
2/25 Paris attacks
Rescuers evacuate an injured person on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire
AFP
3/25 Paris attacks
French Vigipirate troops mobilize next to Place de la Bastille
AFP
4/25 Paris attacks
French soldiers mobilize near to the Place de la Bastille
AFP
5/25 Paris attacks
Wounded people are evacuated outside the scene of a hostage situation at the Bataclan theatre
EPA
6/25 Paris attacks
People react as they gather to watch the scene near the Bataclan concert hall
Reuters
7/25 Paris attacks
French police secure the area outside a cafe near the Bataclan concert hall
Reuters
8/25 Paris attacks
Rescuers workers evacuate victims near the Bataclan concert hall
AFP
9/25 Paris attacks
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and French President Francois Hollande attending an emergency meeting at the Interior Ministry
AFP
10/25 Paris attacks
Spectators invade the pitch of the Stade de France after explosions were heard outside
AP
11/25 Paris attacks
A man lies on the ground as French police check his identity near the Bataclan concert hall
Reuters
12/25 Paris attacks
Police officers man a position close to the Bataclan theatre
AFP
13/25 Paris attacks
Wounded people are evacuated from the Stade de France in Paris
EPA
14/25 Paris attacks
Two men evacuate the Place de la Republique square in Paris as a police officer looks on
AFP
15/25 Paris attacks
Football fans are evacuated from the Stade de France stadium
16/25 Paris attacks
An armed police officer
Dan Gabriel
17/25 Paris attacks
The Stade de France is evacuated after reports of an explosion
18/25 Paris attacks
A member of the French fire brigade aids an injured individual near the Bataclan concert hall
19/25 Paris attacks
Wounded people are evacuated from the Stade de France in Paris
20/25 Paris attacks
Police are seen outside a cafe in 10th arrondissement of the French capital Paris,
21/25 Paris attacks
Rescuers assist an injured man on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, close to the Bataclan concert hall
AFP
22/25 Paris attacks
The scene at a restaurant in 10th arrondissement
23/25 Paris attacks
The Bataclan theatre - where around 100 people are thought be held hostage
24/25 Paris attacks
The Stade de France as it was evacuated
25/25 Paris attacks
Forensic experts inspect the site of an attack outside the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis
AFP
1/25 Paris attacks
French police with protective shields walk in line near the Bataclan concert hall
Reuters
2/25 Paris attacks
Rescuers evacuate an injured person on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire
AFP
3/25 Paris attacks
French Vigipirate troops mobilize next to Place de la Bastille
AFP
4/25 Paris attacks
French soldiers mobilize near to the Place de la Bastille
AFP
5/25 Paris attacks
Wounded people are evacuated outside the scene of a hostage situation at the Bataclan theatre
EPA
6/25 Paris attacks
People react as they gather to watch the scene near the Bataclan concert hall
Reuters
7/25 Paris attacks
French police secure the area outside a cafe near the Bataclan concert hall
Reuters
8/25 Paris attacks
Rescuers workers evacuate victims near the Bataclan concert hall
AFP
9/25 Paris attacks
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and French President Francois Hollande attending an emergency meeting at the Interior Ministry
AFP
10/25 Paris attacks
Spectators invade the pitch of the Stade de France after explosions were heard outside
AP
11/25 Paris attacks
A man lies on the ground as French police check his identity near the Bataclan concert hall
Reuters
12/25 Paris attacks
Police officers man a position close to the Bataclan theatre
AFP
13/25 Paris attacks
Wounded people are evacuated from the Stade de France in Paris
EPA
14/25 Paris attacks
Two men evacuate the Place de la Republique square in Paris as a police officer looks on
AFP
15/25 Paris attacks
Football fans are evacuated from the Stade de France stadium
16/25 Paris attacks
An armed police officer
Dan Gabriel
17/25 Paris attacks
The Stade de France is evacuated after reports of an explosion
18/25 Paris attacks
A member of the French fire brigade aids an injured individual near the Bataclan concert hall
19/25 Paris attacks
Wounded people are evacuated from the Stade de France in Paris
20/25 Paris attacks
Police are seen outside a cafe in 10th arrondissement of the French capital Paris,
21/25 Paris attacks
Rescuers assist an injured man on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, close to the Bataclan concert hall
AFP
22/25 Paris attacks
The scene at a restaurant in 10th arrondissement
23/25 Paris attacks
The Bataclan theatre - where around 100 people are thought be held hostage
24/25 Paris attacks
The Stade de France as it was evacuated
25/25 Paris attacks
Forensic experts inspect the site of an attack outside the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis
AFP
He confirmed that they arrived in Europe from the Middle East but would not give further details.
The men are now being questioned by police and intelligence officials.
A 29-year-old man was arrested in Paris yesterday in relation to the attacks, while eight men have also been detained in Belgium, where the shootings are thought to have been organised, and another Belgian man was held in Turkey.
Three of the suspected nine attackers have still not been formally identified, while Salah Abdeslam remains on the run.
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