The Islamic State is plotting 'Mumbai-style' terrorist attacks directed at soft targets such as public places and restaurants in Europe, and in France in particular, the European Union police agency Europol warned today.

Europol chief Rob Wainwright said that the IS had developed a new combat style capability to carry out a campaign of large-scale terrorist attacks on a global stage -- with a particular focus in Europe.

Releasing a new Europol report on counter-terrorism, he said the terror group has 'a willingness and a capability to carry out further attacks in Europe'.

"All national authorities are working to prevent that from happening," he added.

The report warned that 'IS is preparing more terrorist attacks, including more 'Mumbai-style' attacks, to be executed in member states of the EU, and in France in particular'.

It said the attacks will be primarily directed at soft targets, because of the impact it generates.

'Both the November Paris attacks and the October 2015 bombing of a Russian airliner suggest a shift in IS strategy towards going global,' it added.

'In selecting their targets, local IS commanders are believed to enjoy tactical freedom to adapt their plans to specific local circumstances, adding to the difficulty for law enforcement to detect such plans and identifying the people involved at an early stage,' the eight-page report said.