Officials Confirm: Threat is Real

Dec. 22, 2006— -- Top members of U.S. law enforcement have confirmed to ABC News thatEuropean officials are deeply worried about a possible terror attacktargeting Europe as early as the holidays.

While no specific plot has been uncovered, American officials say theirEuropean counterparts believe a threat of attack could be coming soon.One area of concern -- Islamic militants returning to native Europeancountries from the war in Iraq.

Those radicals could easily be lost in the flow of refugees fleeing thewar-torn country. They return home as war heroes, blending into theEuropean landscape and recruiting from a large pool of disaffectedMuslim men -- some already involved in active terror cells.

Some sources describe the European level of concern as "blinkingred."

Meanwhile, U.S. law enforcement officials said they have found nocredible evidence of domestic attacks planned for the holiday season.

Since Sept. 11, fear of a possible terror attack has spiked during eachholiday season. European officials, however, are particularly concernedabout the possibility of an attack this year. In 2006, terror plots weredashed in Britain, Germany, the Czech Republic and Italy.