Russia's secret service has claimed that Al-Qaeda are behind spate of forest fires across Europe. The revelations come after deadly fires which have swept through forest . land in the EU over the past few months. Only last week a forest fire fanned by gusting winds forced the evacuation of some 2,000 people from a handful of small mountain towns in eastern Spain. In both Portugal and Spain thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes as well as dozens of people killed. Devastation: A burning forest fire in Pedralba, near Valencia, Spain, last month . Flames: A tree burns during a forest fire in Domeno city, near Valencia in the early hours of September 24 . The Telegraph reported that the warning was at a meeting of heads of security agencies, by Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander . Bortnikov. He stated: 'One should note that setting fires to forests in the . countries of the European Union is a new tendency in al-Qaeda's strategy . of a 'thousand cuts.' He . explained that igniting fires allowed the terror group to inflict . 'significant economic and moral damage without serious preliminary . preparations, technical equipment or significant expenses.' Fighting the flames: Emergency services scrambled a massive operation to hold back the fires as they approached houses of the El Tanque village on the Tenerife island, Canary Islands . Scorched earth: A firefighter works to stop the spread of wildfires which sweept through parts of La Gomera, Spain, last month . Concerning: Smoke billows from a wildfire over the residential town of Chipude, near of the National Park of Garajonay . Ease: Mr Bortnikov explained that igniting fires allowed the terror group to inflict 'significant economic and moral damage without serious preliminary preparations, technical equipment or significant expenses' In May Al Qaeda called upon its followers to unleash massive forest fires upon the United States this summer. Published in an edition of the notorious terror magazine, 'Inspire', are graphic instructions for the creation and ignition of 'ember bombs' Detailed in the memorably titled, 'It is of your Freedom to Ignite a Firebomb', the magazine encourages any would-be terrorist to target Montana, because of the rapid population growth in its wooded areas. In May Al Qaeda called upon its followers to unleash massive forest fires upon the United States. Published in an edition of the notorious . terror magazine, 'Inspire', are graphic instructions for the creation . and ignition of 'ember bombs. In his statement Mr Bortnikov also said it was very difficult for special services to find and prosecute such arsonists. Last month wildfires forced thousands of people to flee their homes on the Spanish Canary Islands of La Gomera and Tenerife. Firefighters battled searing temperatures and stiff winds as the flames threatened a World Heritage site whose wooded land is 11 million years old. On La Gomera, the fires destroyed 7,400 acres forcing the evacuation of more than 4,000 people from 13 villages in the island's west and southwest. On Tenerife 2,200 were moved from their homes. In July dozens of people have been forced to evacuate their homes as wildfires sweep across the Portuguese islands of Madeira. Destruction: . A large fire burns at dusk near a residential neighbourhood in Funchal, . the largest city in Madeira, Portugal in July . Angry front: A clear line of flames rage on the hills above Funchal, under choking smoke . Saved from destruction: Blackened hillsides are seen in front of saved homes after a fire in Santa Cruz , some 20 km from Funchal, on Madeira Island. Fires raged around the towns of Calheta, Ribeira Brava and in Santa Cruz . Risks: A map showing the current risks of a forest fire in Europe . Cash-strapped . Portugal, which received a bailout worth 78bn euros ($116bn or £70bn), . from other European countries and the International Monetary Fund, has . had relatively few forest fires in the past two years, as temperatures . were low and rainfall high. But . the country has also suffered a drought since the beginning of the year . and this, coupled with a scorching heatwave, increased the risk of . fires. Although al-Qaeda were weakened by the death of leader in May last year,  the organisation still remain a . significant threat to countries they consider an enemy because they are have looked at smaller scale operations such as fires. Spreading: This map illustrates all the areas in Europe which have suffered forest fires in the past season .
Fires have swept through forest land in countries such as Portugal and Spain over the past few months .
Director of the Federal Security Service: Fire allows terror group to inflict damage without 'technical equipment or significant expenses'
Russia's secret service has claimed that Al-Qaeda are behind spate of forest fires across Europe. The revelations come after deadly fires which have swept through forest . land in the EU over the past few months. Only last week a forest fire fanned by gusting winds forced the evacuation of some 2,000 people from a handful of small mountain towns in eastern Spain. In both Portugal and Spain thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes as well as dozens of people killed. Devastation: A burning forest fire in Pedralba, near Valencia, Spain, last month . Flames: A tree burns during a forest fire in Domeno city, near Valencia in the early hours of September 24 . The Telegraph reported that the warning was at a meeting of heads of security agencies, by Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander . Bortnikov. He stated: 'One should note that setting fires to forests in the . countries of the European Union is a new tendency in al-Qaeda's strategy . of a 'thousand cuts.' He . explained that igniting fires allowed the terror group to inflict . 'significant economic and moral damage without serious preliminary . preparations, technical equipment or significant expenses.' Fighting the flames: Emergency services scrambled a massive operation to hold back the fires as they approached houses of the El Tanque village on the Tenerife island, Canary Islands . Scorched earth: A firefighter works to stop the spread of wildfires which sweept through parts of La Gomera, Spain, last month . Concerning: Smoke billows from a wildfire over the residential town of Chipude, near of the National Park of Garajonay . Ease: Mr Bortnikov explained that igniting fires allowed the terror group to inflict 'significant economic and moral damage without serious preliminary preparations, technical equipment or significant expenses' In May Al Qaeda called upon its followers to unleash massive forest fires upon the United States this summer. Published in an edition of the notorious terror magazine, 'Inspire', are graphic instructions for the creation and ignition of 'ember bombs' Detailed in the memorably titled, 'It is of your Freedom to Ignite a Firebomb', the magazine encourages any would-be terrorist to target Montana, because of the rapid population growth in its wooded areas. In May Al Qaeda called upon its followers to unleash massive forest fires upon the United States. Published in an edition of the notorious . terror magazine, 'Inspire', are graphic instructions for the creation . and ignition of 'ember bombs. In his statement Mr Bortnikov also said it was very difficult for special services to find and prosecute such arsonists. Last month wildfires forced thousands of people to flee their homes on the Spanish Canary Islands of La Gomera and Tenerife. Firefighters battled searing temperatures and stiff winds as the flames threatened a World Heritage site whose wooded land is 11 million years old. On La Gomera, the fires destroyed 7,400 acres forcing the evacuation of more than 4,000 people from 13 villages in the island's west and southwest. On Tenerife 2,200 were moved from their homes. In July dozens of people have been forced to evacuate their homes as wildfires sweep across the Portuguese islands of Madeira. Destruction: . A large fire burns at dusk near a residential neighbourhood in Funchal, . the largest city in Madeira, Portugal in July . Angry front: A clear line of flames rage on the hills above Funchal, under choking smoke . Saved from destruction: Blackened hillsides are seen in front of saved homes after a fire in Santa Cruz , some 20 km from Funchal, on Madeira Island. Fires raged around the towns of Calheta, Ribeira Brava and in Santa Cruz . Risks: A map showing the current risks of a forest fire in Europe . Cash-strapped . Portugal, which received a bailout worth 78bn euros ($116bn or £70bn), . from other European countries and the International Monetary Fund, has . had relatively few forest fires in the past two years, as temperatures . were low and rainfall high. But . the country has also suffered a drought since the beginning of the year . and this, coupled with a scorching heatwave, increased the risk of . fires. Although al-Qaeda were weakened by the death of leader in May last year,  the organisation still remain a . significant threat to countries they consider an enemy because they are have looked at smaller scale operations such as fires. Spreading: This map illustrates all the areas in Europe which have suffered forest fires in the past season .
have swept through forest . land in the EU over the past few months. Only last week a forest fire agencies, by Director of the Federal Security the terror group to inflict . 'significant economic and moral damage without serious technical equipment or significant expenses' In