“Anti-Islamic terrorism,” which involves “psychopaths and murderers” fueled by racism and nationalism, is on the rise not only in Europe but all around the world, the director of Russia’s security service has warned.

“A phenomenon of anti-Islamic terrorism is becoming a serious challenge,” Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday. He suggested that deep divides between immigrants and natives are fertile soil for “the rise of nationalist sentiments… and right wing, neo-racist radicalism.”

The emergence of cold-blooded psychopaths and murderers who harbor plans to slaughter Muslims is becoming an alarming trend not only in Europe, but in the rest of the world.

The official referred to the New Zealand tragedy on March 15, when 28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant opened fire on Muslim worshippers at two city mosques as they gathered for Friday prayers. It was the worst shooting in the country’s history, leaving 50 people dead and many more injured.

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Tarrant was apprehended 36 minutes after the first call, but it was “absolutely his intention” to carry out further attacks. He was mobile and had two other firearms in his vehicle, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters in the aftermath of the gun rampage.

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