Italy's Mare Nostrum operation, which ended some weeks ago, had served as a deterrent to terrorists wanting to enter Europe by posing as irregular migrants, Italy's under secretary responsible for intelligence, Marco Minniti, told a parliamentary committee yesterday.

"Migrant flows may be a channel for terrorist infiltration, but there are no specific signals that this is taking place," Minniti was reported by Ansa as telling a meeting which was discussing the EU Schengen area.

"When there was Mare Nostrum, this was a deterrent because it was difficult for them to blend in if they have to pass through Navy ships", he said.

Mare Nostrum had been blamed by critics in Italy for encouraging the flows of migrants from North Africa and increasing the risk of Islamist terrorist being among them.

Ansa, however, also quotes a report appearing in unidentified Libyan media saying ISIS is focusing on Libya as a means “to get to Europe” among irregular immigrants.

ISIS is reported to have said, “If we can take advantage of this channel, the situation in these countries will turn into a living hell.” The report has yet to be verified as authentic.