Rome : Italian police on Wednesday arrested two North Africans on suspicion of planning Al Qaeda-inspired terrorist attacks in Italy and the Maghreb. A third suspect is already in custody for alleged terrorism in Morocco.
The cell was allegedly plotting terror attacks in Italy and North Africa — besides one at the Moroccan capital Rabat’s annual Mawazine music festival in 2012 which was thwarted by Italian and Moroccan authorities.
Police did not say where in Italy the two suspects were arrested but said warrants were issued by prosecutors in the Italian capital, Rome.
Wednesday’s ‘Jweb 7’ police operation followed the identification by investigators of a website allegedly set up by the suspects to indoctrinate and train recruits, police said.
Also on Wednesday, 10 suspected Islamic State supporters were arrested in Italy and Albania, in one of Europe’s first operations against the extremist group.
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano praised the security forces for Wednesday’s arrests, which he said had “dealt a severe blow to terrorist cells located in Italy”.
“Our (anti-terrorism) laws are working and are showing themselves to be indispensable to national security,” Alfano said.