ISIS beheads 12 cops after seizing key gateway to Europe

ISIS – also known as Daesh – seized control of the ancient city after battling through the night with local militia.

Security experts have warned the group – which is thriving in the bloody aftermath of former Libyan dictator Muammar "Mad Dog” Gaddafi violent overthrow – may plant terrorists among migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe.

ISIS has encircled Sabratha since early last year – but finally overran the city centre after a fierce firefight on Tuesday.

Government-backed security forces eventually retook the city – but not before the terror nuts had decapitated the cops.

Fighting continued at daybreak after battles around Sabratha’s hospital and football stadium – with Isis fighters retreating to a western suburb.

Analysts warn ISIS is creating an "African jihadist army” in Libya and they could easily mingle with genuine refugees fleeing war and chaos across the region.

So-called "sleeper cells” could then launch Paris-style attacks in European cities.

Most of the group’s units attacking Sabratha were said to be foreign fighters – as oppose to Libyans.

Paris-based terrorism expert David Thomson told the Guardian: "ISIS is creating a real African jihadist army.

"We can see mass arrivals of jihadis – they are impossible to control for the simple reason that they use the same route as migrants.

"The airstrikes can reduce the shock that is coming, but they need ground troops to stop it.”

The mastermind of the Tunisian Sousse beach massacre – which killed 30 Brits – was wiped out in a US air strike on Sabratha last week.

At least 41 people – including two Serbian hostages as well as ISIS commander Noureddine Chouchane – were killed in the raid.

Dash has doubled its presence in Libya in just six months – amassing 6,000 fighters just 200 miles from Europe.

Supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is even rumoured to have fled Syria for the new haven.

The UK has pledged 1,000 troops to help train the Libyan armed forces to fend off Daesh.

The RAF is flying missions over the country in preparation for possible attacks on ISIS.

French and American special forces are already on the ground carrying out operations against the group.

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(dailystar.co.uk)