The European Union's top prosecutor said she has been told that smugglers' boats bringing migrants across the Mediterranean to Europe are also carrying terrorist fighters from Islamic State.

Michele Coninsx, head of the EU's judicial co-operation agency Eurojust, told reporters she received the information as part of Eurojust's efforts to help EU nations jointly respond to illegal immigration, terrorism and cybercrime.

Ms Coninsx said Eurojust's co-ordination efforts are ongoing and she could not divulge what EU nations have told the agency.

She said it is not yet clear what problem the reported infiltration of Islamic militants may pose for European law enforcement.

But she said groups such as Islamic State are also using proceeds from people-trafficking to fund terrorism.

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