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April 19, 2006
France & Italy: 12 Islamist Suspects Arrested
News from Agence France Presse via Expatica and Le Monde details how 12 Islamist suspects were arrested in France and Italy today, in a combined exercise by counter-terrorism agents from both countries.
The individuals were all believed to be part of the Algerian terror organisation, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). Investigators believe that those arrested, all Algerians, were financing Islamic extremists.
In Italy, suspects were arrested in Caserte, Naples, Milan and Bologna. In France, five suspects were arrested near Marseille. The French operatiion was conducted by DNAT, the National Directorate of Antiterrorism.
The Italian operation came after a two-year long investigation into forged document activities, where fake identity documentation was given to illegal immigrants. The Italians informed the French when they discovered a link with criminal groups in Marseille. On a near-weekly basis, forged documents were sent from Naples to Marseille on tourist buses.
In September, the GSPC stated that France was a potential terror target, its "number one enemy".
Currently, more individuals are being sought in France, and the Italian investigation continues.
The GSPC is active in Europe. A trial commenced recently on March 21 in Paris of 27 individuals suspected of belonging to the group, which has links with Al Qaeda. Most of those on trial were arrested in September and October. These individuals are accused of plotting a major terror attack in France. Initially, their arrests had been linked with parallel operations in Italy.
There have been numerous arrests of suspects from GSPC in Spain, particularly around the Costa del Sol, where a mosque in Malaga had been used by its imam, Abu Sufian to recruit extremists.
The GSPC also has had members who have lived in Norway.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at April 19, 2006 8:56 PM
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