Posted on 10/13/2002 2:31:27 PM PDT by csvset
Italian cell part of wider European terror web Its contacts, however, extended to Iran, Malaysia and Afghanistan. Their aim - hit American targets
PARIS - A suspected terrorist cell broken up recently in Italy is believed to be part of a wider European network with contacts in Iran, Malaysia and Afghanistan that is suspected of plotting attacks on American targets.
Five North Africans were arrested on Thursday and Friday in Milan, Naples, San Remo and the island of Malta. A sixth is at large and a seventh, the alleged leader, is in a British jail.
Italian authorities said their activities in recent months demonstrate that Al-Qaeda is reorganising to prepare new strikes.
The suspects allegedly scouted the United States embassies in Belgium and the Netherlands as potential targets, an Italian official said.
'This is the first time here in Italy we find someone who we think was preparing an attack,' the official said.
'Terrorist cells have been under a lot of pressure since Sept 11. But this group was still active.'
Last week's arrests grew out of a three-year investigation in Milan of a support network that assisted Al-Qaeda members across Europe.
Aided by wiretaps and surveillance, prosecutors have convicted seven members of a mostly Tunisian cell of dealing in false documents and other crimes related to illegal immigration.
They belonged to a North African organisation, the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, that is part of the multiethnic Al-Qaeda alliance.
The suspects in Friday's case are also Salafists. Their alleged leader is Farj Hassan, known as Hamza the Libyan, whom British police arrested for immigration violations in May.
Hassan allegedly communicated with fugitives who were trying to reorganise Al-Qaeda's battered operations.
One was a son of Osama bin Laden believed to be in Iran.
The other was a man in Malaysia known as Abu Hani, allegedly once a trainer of suicide terrorists in Afghanistan and a suspect in the assassination last year of Afghan leader Ahmed Shah Masoud.
Intercepted conversations in recent months revealed other plots in the making.
One centred on plans for obtaining explosives in the south of France.
Last month, the suspects referred to an imminent 'soccer game' - believed to be code for a terrorist act.
And they allegedly said they would take revenge on Italy for supporting the US anti-terror campaign.
'You'll see what happens now in Italy,' a suspect named Nassim said in a wiretapped conversation described by an investigator. 'Maybe you'll find 300 or 400 dead in the subway.'
They need to be dead Islamic rat bastards!!
The suspects in Friday's case are also Salafists. Their alleged leader is Farj Hassan, known as Hamza the Libyan, whom British police arrested for immigration violations in May.
Hassan allegedly communicated with fugitives who were trying to reorganise Al-Qaeda's battered operations.
One was a son of Osama bin Laden believed to be in Iran.
The other was a man in Malaysia known as Abu Hani, allegedly once a trainer of suicide terrorists in Afghanistan and a suspect in the assassination last year of Afghan leader Ahmed Shah Masoud.
Intercepted conversations in recent months revealed other plots in the making."
One centred on plans for obtaining explosives in the south of France.
Last month, the suspects referred to an imminent 'soccer game' - believed to be code for a terrorist act.
And they allegedly said they would take revenge on Italy for supporting the US anti-terror campaign.
'You'll see what happens now in Italy,' a suspect named Nassim said in a wiretapped conversation described by an investigator. 'Maybe you'll find 300 or 400 dead in the subway.' "
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