GETTY IMAGES Angela Merkel admits that militants will have hidden themselves among migrants

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In part, the refugee flow was even used to smuggle terrorists Angela Merkel

More than one million people have come into Germany in the last year after the country’s government said they would be allowed to settle there. However, the massive movement of migrants has caused problems in countries in Eastern Europe. Speaking today, the German Chancellor said: "In part, the refugee flow was even used to smuggle terrorists.” The lack of border checks between European nations who have signed up to the Schengen Agreement has been a particular bone of contention.

GETTY IMAGES Angela Merkel made her shock admission earlier today

The Chancellor’s comments come after German intelligence boss Hans Georg Maassen announced 17 Islamic State (ISIS) militants entered Europe pretending to be refugees. It also follows a plot involving a group of Syrian jihadis who planned to carry out an attack in Dusseldorf, in the west of the country. Mrs Merkel’s proposals to open Germany’s borders to migrants and refugees last year were initially welcomed by the German people. However, after a series of sex attacks over the New Year in the city of Cologne by immigrants from the Middle East, public opinion turned against the scheme.

Migrant Crisis: Mass exodus from the migrant camp continues Tue, October 25, 2016 Hundreds of migrants are continuing to arrive in Europe as they flee the scenes of chaos and brutality of the Islamic State in the Middle East. Play slideshow 1 of 224

GETTY IMAGES A million migrants have headed for Germany in the last year

Last week, in a bid to minimise the effects of the migration crisis on Europe, MEPs agreed to replace the union’s border agency, Frontex, with a new European Border and Coast Guard Agency (EBCG), which will be granted more powers. Several EU countries, especially those in eastern Europe, have taken matters into their hands this year as they struggled to cope with the numbers of migrants trying to cross their borders, adding to the more than one million refugees who made their way to Europe last year. Temporary fences were erected in the first part of 2016 on the Hungary border with Serbia, Slovakia, Romania and Croatia, the Slovenia/Croatia border, the Slovakia/Austria border and the Macedonian border with Greece and Serbia.

GETTY IMAGES Jihadis loyal to the Islamic State have hidden themselves among genuine refugees

Last week, in a bid to minimise the effects of the migration crisis on Europe, MEPs agreed to replace the union’s border agency, Frontex, with a new European Border and Coast Guard Agency (EBCG), which will be granted more powers. Several EU countries, especially those in eastern Europe, have taken matters into their hands this year as they struggled to cope with the numbers of migrants trying to cross their borders, adding to the more than one million refugees who made their way to Europe last year. Temporary fences were erected in the first part of 2016 on the Hungary border with Serbia, Slovakia, Romania and Croatia, the Slovenia/Croatia border, the Slovakia/Austria border and the Macedonian border with Greece and Serbia. Speaking last week, EU rapporteur Artis Pabrics, said: "The European Border and Coast Guard Regulation will ensure that the EU external borders are safer and better managed. “This is not a silver bullet that can solve the migration crisis that the EU is facing today or fully restore trust in the Schengen area, but it is very much needed first step.”