December 2, 2008

Italy arrests two jihadists planning attacks on Italian civilians

They met to plot jihad at the "Peace Cultural Centre."

"Al Qaeda terror suspects nabbed," from ANSA, December 2 (thanks to Insubria):

(ANSA) - Milan, December 2 - Milan anti-terrorist police on Tuesday arrested two Moroccans suspected of belonging to al Qaeda who were planning attacks on targets in northern Italy.

Police said Rachid Ilhami, 31, and Gafir Abdelkader, 42, had planned attacks on a supermarket and a night club carpark in Seregno and two police stations in Giussano, both towns in the northern province of Monza.

Wiretaps revealed the men had initially planned to use a van packed with explosives but then decided on oxygen cylinders after Internet research.

Police said the men had revealed their links to al Qaeda during their conversations.

A total of ten people are under investigation as a result of the operation.

Police also seized the Peace Cultural Centre in the village of Macherio, where Ilhami worked as a preacher.

According to investigators, small groups of fundamentalists met at the centre in the evenings after the day's official sermons were finished.