Europe's Refugee Crisis Deepens Amid Paris Attacks and Fears of Anti-Foreigner Backlash

European leaders are grappling with the deepening divisions on how to handle the region's refugee crisis, exacerbated by the recent attacks in Paris. The influx of hundreds of thousands of people from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere has provoked both sympathy and alarm. As it appears that at least one of the attackers in Paris may have posed as a refugee, the potential link between terrorists and refugees will make it harder for European leaders to forge a unified response. The crisis has also strengthened the hand of far-right parties, which have warned of possible dangers associated with the influx.

Key Takeaways:

• At least one of the attackers in Paris may have posed as a refugee, raising fears of an anti-foreigner backlash and deepening divisions on how to handle the refugee crisis.
• The potential link between terrorists and refugees will make it harder for European leaders to forge a unified response to the migration crisis.
• The Paris attacks have strengthened the hand of far-right parties, which have warned of possible dangers associated with the influx.
• European Union leaders are bitterly split on how to respond to the influx of refugees, with some calling for a tightening of borders and others advocating for continued open borders within the EU.
• Poland has announced that it will no longer fulfill its commitment to take in 9,000 asylum seekers, citing security concerns in the wake of the Paris attacks.
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces increasing criticism over her policies on immigration and refugee protection, with some politicians calling for a tightening of borders.
• The crisis has sparked a national debate in Germany, with some politicians calling for a ban on Islamist organizations and the closure of radical mosques.

Statistics:

• Hundreds of thousands of people have passed through the unofficial humanitarian corridor from Greece to Western Europe via the Balkan nations.
• At least one attacker in the Paris attacks may have posed as a refugee, using a Syrian passport that was allegedly found near the crime scene.
• 9,000 asylum seekers were supposed to be taken in by Poland as part of a mandatory burden-sharing deal among EU nations, but the country has now backed out due to security concerns.
• Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far-right party Front National, has called for France to "regain control of its borders" and "ban Islamist organizations" in response to the attacks.

Sources:

• Joanna Slater (not provided)
• European Union leaders quoted, including Jean-Claude Juncker
• Konrad Szymanski, incoming Polish minister for European affairs
• Markus Soeder, German minister in the state of Bavaria
• Marine Le Pen, leader of the Front National party in France