'Huge risk' of terrorist attack over Christmas holidays, warns European Union

Nations in the European Union are facing a "huge risk of terrorist attacks" over the upcoming Christmas holidays, a top official warned.

European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said increasing tensions in society caused by the Israel-Hamas conflict was raising the risk of violence, reports the BBC.

She was speaking on Tuesday days after a tourist was fatally stabbed in Paris.

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Spending on security measures across the 27-member nation EU was being increased by €30m ($39 million), Johansson said

She did not comment whether new information prompted the spending hike.

"We saw it recently in Paris, unfortunately we have seen it earlier as well," she added ahead of a meeting of EU interior ministers.

There has been an uptick in reports of hate crimes throughout Europe since Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel in early October.

EU ministers were holding talks after a 23-year-old German-Filipino man called Colin B was killed on Saturday, near the Eiffel Tower in the French city, allegedly by a man who had been under surveillance for suspected Islamic radicalisation.

The victim's girlfriend and a British tourist were also injured in the attack.

French national Rajabpour-Miyandoab is a French national who is being held in police custody.

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Rajabpour-Miyandoab recorded a video before the attack in which he swore allegiance to the Islamic State group and expressed support for Islamic extremists operating in various areas, including in Africa, Iraq, Syria, Egypt's Sinai, Yemen, Iran and Pakistan, Ricard said.

France has been under a heightened terror alert since the fatal stabbing in October of a teacher in the northern city of Arras by a former student suspected of Islamic radicalisation.