has risen to more than 3,000, the EU's anti-terrorism chief has told
the BBC.
Gilles de Kerchove also warned that Western air strikes would increase
the risk of retaliatory attacks in Europe.
US-led forces have launched nearly 200 air strikes against Islamic
State militants in Iraq since August and on Monday began targeting IS
in Syria.
The UK parliament is due to vote on possible air strikes in Iraq on Friday.
IS has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in recent months.
Mr de Kerchove said the number of 3,000 included all those who have
been to the region, including those who have returned and those who
have been killed there.
The CIA estimates that IS may have up to 31,000 fighters in Iraq and
Syria - three times as many as previously feared.
Mr de Kerchove said that Islamic State's declaration of a caliphate in
June may have played a role in drawing more support from Europe.
"If you believe in this, probably you want to be part of it as early
as possible," he said.
He warned that air strikes by the US and its Western allies had
increased the risk of a violent response from militant Islamists
against European targets.
"I think we have to acknowledge that it will," he said.
"That was clear with the French because three days ago [IS] issued a
statement saying there would be retaliation against the coalition. A
French man was kidnapped in Algeria and he has been beheaded. So they
did what they announced."
Mr de Kerchove also warned that groups competing with IS, such as
al-Qaeda, may try to launch attacks in Europe to maintain their
profile.
"The rise of [IS] may prompt al-Qaeda to do something to show that it
is still relevant," he said.
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council adopted a binding resolution
compelling states to prevent their nationals joining jihadists in Iraq
and Syria.
On Thursday, the US military released footage and photographs of its
air strikes on oil refineries controlled by IS militants in eastern
Syria.
The raids, carried out by US, Saudi and UAE aircraft, targeted 12
refineries in Syria on a third night of air strikes against the
militants.
Sales of smuggled crude oil have helped finance the jihadists'
offensive in both countries.
Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the purpose of the
strikes was "not necessarily to kill militants" but to destroy the
facilities, which were funding IS through the black market.
He said the strikes had been effective but not yet decisive.
"Even after the hits they've taken, and they have been hit, they still
have financing at their fingertips," Rear Adm Kirby added.
He said it was too soon to talk of "winning" against IS, adding that
they still "have plenty of weapons and vehicles and the ability to
move around".
UK votes on actionThe US says more than 40 countries have offered to
join the anti-IS coalition.
Later on Friday, UK MPs will be asked to support strikes against IS
militants in Iraq - but not in Syria.
The office of Prime Minister David Cameron said UK forces could
legally join the bombing of targets in Iraq after the Iraqi minister
of foreign affairs wrote to the UN seeking international assistance.
Mr Cameron told the UN on Wednesday IS was an "evil against which the
whole world must unite".
The Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, says his government will
decide in the coming days whether to join the air strikes in Iraq and
Syria.
Mr Abbott said it was in Australia's interest to play its part in what
he called the fight "against the murderous death cult".
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