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Up to 20 Islamic State fighters may be looking to return to Ireland since the terror’s group’s collapse in Syria and Iraq, the Department of Justice has said.

Officials estimate about 25 people travelled from Ireland to fight with the group since 2011 but five were killed in action.

Officials said threat levels are being “kept under constant and active review” since the cities of Raqqa and Mosul were re-captured by Iraqi, and American-backed forces last October.

In a statement released to The Irish Mirror, the department said: “There is a small number of people here whose activities in support of extremism give cause for concern.

“Gardai monitor their activities very closely and take any appropriate operational responses.

“They take all appropriate actions in respect of any threat identified or any persons who may present a threat.

“It is estimated that in the order of 25 people have travelled from Ireland to take part in the conflict in the Middle East since 2011 and it is understood that in the order of five of them have lost their lives there.

“It should be emphasised that there are difficulties in securing reliable information about such matters from conflict areas.” One of the Irish fighters believed to be dead is Abu Osama Al-Irlandi, better known as ‘Khalid Kelly’ who was reportedly killed after carrying out a suicide attack in Mosul in 2016.

Kelly, a former nurse who appeared on The Late Late Show in 2003, had previously been arrested by Irish forces over a plot to murder Barack Obama in 2011 but was later released without charge.

Since the fall of the caliphate, it is estimated that thousands of foreign fighters will be trying to re-enter their homelands across the world with many being based in Europe.

bomber

In the UK, more than 800 citizens are estimated to have joined the group in the past six years including Manchester bomber Salman Abedi who carried out the attack after returning from Syria.

Other members of the group are believed to be re-locating to other unstable regions such as Afghanistan and Pakistan where militant numbers are reported to be rising.

Meanwhile in Ireland a man in Waterford pleaded guilty to transferring money to IS through Western Union and An Post accounts..

Hassan Bal, 26, formerly of O’Connell Street in Waterford, has been in custody since his arrested in April of last year.

He pleaded guilty two counts relating to the funding and attempting funding of ISIS including providing €400 in funds on October 2 in 2015.

His case resumes on April 10 and if convicted Bal could face up to 20 years in prison.