GETTY Jihadis who have travelled to Syria are now living in Austria - it has been announced

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The country's Interior Ministry of Austria admitted they have identified 278 potential jihadists - many of whom have spent time in Iraq or Syria. The numbers were revealed by Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka from the conservative Austrian People's Party after parliamentary questions were asked, according to Austrian daily 'Die Presse'.

GETTY Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said there are around 278 jihadis in Austria

The majority of the radical Muslims are said to come from the north Caucasus region. Estimates total the number of active jihadists in Europe who have previously joined ISIS in Syria or are willing to do so at around 5,000.

GETTY European countries have had high profile cases of jihadis living in plain sight

ISIS fighters Fri, March 25, 2016 Iraq and Syrian jihadists, including the Paris and Brussels attacks suspects. Play slideshow PH 1 of 47 Belgian national Salah Abdeslam who masterminded the Paris attacks

Of all European countries, Belgium has the highest number of jihadists with around 614 who fought abroad in Syria or Iraq or who plan to. In August, in anticipation of hundreds of thousands of refugees arriving in Austria, the country's Interior Minister revealed plans to tighten laws. Anyone who has crossed illegally he said, will be prosecuted. The parliamentary questions that revealed the jihadi figures were asked by Team Stronach, a new eurosceptic and right-wing party named after Austrian-Canadian businessman Frank Stronach.

GETTY Wolfgang Sobotka from the conservative Austrian People's Party wants to change asylum laws