Middle Eastern refugees in Germany. Violent extremists, criminals and foreign fighters are part of the daily refugee flow into Europe, according to a top NATO commander. Photo: UN Refugee Agency.

Violent extremists, criminals and foreign fighters are part of the daily refugee flow into Europe, the top NATO commander in Europe told lawmakers, “masking the movement” of these dangerous elements and heightening the potential for an attack.

In testimony Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, US Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove said the Islamic State is “spreading like a cancer” within this mix, “taking advantage of paths of least resistance, threatening European nations” and the United States.

Read full story at The Associated Press.