Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has warned terrorists could be among the refugees making their way to Europe.

Mr Assad told Czech Television there was a mix of genuine Syrian refugees and terrorists among the hordes of people trying to enter Europe.

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“The majority, they are good Syrians, they are patriots… But of course you have infiltration of terrorists among them, that is true,” he said.

Czech Television said it had interviewed Mr Assad in Damascus and would air the full interview on Tuesday.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees have reached Europe this year — often without documents — sparking fears in many countries that Islamic militants may be among them.

The IS attacks on Paris on November 13 have heightened calls in the European Union for more controls on people arriving from Syria.

Two of the Paris attackers had their fingerprints taken while travelling through Greece in October, a Paris prosecutor said.

One was identified as Ahmad al-Mohammad from a Syrian passport found near his body, although it was not clear whether the passport was genuine or stolen.

Turkey has promised to help stem the flow of migrants to Europe in return for cash, visas and renewed talks on joining the EU, in a deal struck on Sunday.