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The shocking terrorist attacks in Paris could happen in this country, a security expert warned last night.

Tom Clonan said extremists were targeting Ireland because it is seen as “a weak link” and the back door to Europe.

The alert came as an international hunt was under way for the girlfriend of one of the slain gunman who is believed to have fled to Syria.

Meanwhile, Enda Kenny travelled to France today to join French President Francois Hollande and other world leaders to honour victims of the horrific atrocities.

Mr Clonan said Ireland is a hotbed of Islamic extremism with up to 40 dangerous radicals fresh from fighting in Syria and Iraq holding Irish passports.

And this has led to many international terrorist groups using Ireland as a back door to Europe.

Mr Clonan said: “According to An Garda Siochana, the Minister for Justice and the International Centre for the Study of Islamic Radicalisation in London, there are between 30 and 40 Irish passport-holders having fought in Syria or Iraq. It’s a lot.

“In addition to that, Dublin is known to be a transit point for high-value individuals who are involved in Islamist radicalisation internationally.

“They are not Irish passport-holders but Dublin is a transit hub and destination for some of these high-profile individuals. Ireland does not have the type of security infrastructure and resources other jurisdictions have.

“Some of these individuals probably feel like they can pass in and out of our jurisdiction under the radar.

“Also, you can come to Ireland by ferry, first of all without being searched and secondly they don’t often look at your passport.

“Ireland would be considered by international terrorist groups and unfortunately by some security agencies as Europe’s weakest link.”

Mr Clonan said gardai are doing the best that they can with the reduced resources.

He added: “The Garda have really invested a lot of energy and effort into trying to get to grips with the threat posed by Islamic extremists.

“They are very competent and very creative in the ways they reach out to these Irish passport-holders who are vulnerable to grooming.”

However, Mr Clonan said a cut in security resources, US business funding and the use of Shannon Airport by American troops has upped Ireland’s profile in the eyes of fundamentalists.

He added: “To ask if what happened in Paris could happen in Ireland, the answer is yes in theory.

“We wouldn’t be in the top five of the target list. However, having said that there is a great deal of foreign direct investment in Ireland by US companies and they would be targets.

“Also, Shannon Airport has seen 2.25 million American troops pass through it in the past 10 years.

“Hezbollah are the first Islamic resistance group I’m aware of who have identified Ireland as a partner in the coalition of the willing with the US and Britain.

“A statement given to me by a member of Hezbollah stated the Irish people should be ashamed of themselves for allowing Shannon to be used to transport weapons and troops to fight in the global war on terror.

“It stated it is an assault on Muslim men, women and children. To me that’s a very worrying development.”