Brussels, 12/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - A panel of American experts considers that Islamic extremism in Europe finds its source in the very foundations of the European model of society and that the terrorist threat resulting from this directly threatens the security of the United States. Of the 15 to 20 million Muslims living in Western Europe, between 1 and 2% are involved in extremist activities, explained Daniel Fried, who is in charge of European affairs within the Department of State, at a hearing held at Congress on 5 April. Of this proportion, he went on to explain, "only a tiny fraction has the potential to cross the critical threshold leading to terrorism", but that "a handful of extremists is all it takes to carry out a devastating terrorist attack". The fact that the Muslim community of Western Europe is faced with unemployment, discrimination and integration problems has created an "audience which is potentially open" to extremist messages, Mr Fried continued. Furthermore, he believes that the great freedom of expression in certain European countries makes it easier to propagate extremist ideology. A proportion of Islamic activity based in Europe, said Henry Crumpton, anti-terrorist coordinator at the Department of State, speaking at the same meeting, is directly linked to Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network or to similar organisations, such as the Iraqi group of Abou Moussak al Zarkaoui, or the Algerian Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). "Five years on (from the attacks of 11 September), and despite the great many successes in the field of antiterrorism, a violent Islamic extremism in Europe continues to constitute a threat to the national security of the United States and of our allies", declared Mr Crumpton. According to Robin Niblett, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, European Islamic extremism directly threatens the United States, because European tourists do not need a visa to enter the country (it should, however, be noted that European travellers wishing to visit the United States now need a passport containing biometric information, guaranteeing increased levels of security).