Details of the Arrest
A 22-year-old man of Moroccan descent has been apprehended in Reggio Emilia, located in Northern Italy, on terrorism-related charges. Italian authorities reported that the individual was allegedly planning to execute a knife attack in the city's center on behalf of the Islamic State (ISIS). This significant operation was orchestrated by the DIGOS units from both Reggio Emilia and Bologna, with coordination from Italy's anti-terrorism authorities and local prosecutors, as disclosed by local media on a recent Monday.
Suspect's Background and Investigation
The investigations revealed that the suspect had intentions to carry out the attack on a Thursday evening, coinciding with two major events: a basketball game that attracted thousands of fans and a musical festival taking place in Piazza San Prospero. Authorities successfully located the suspect near Via Roma, adjacent to the central Via Emilia, leading to his arrest by police officers. Prior to this incident, he had been under surveillance by Italy's Central Directorate of Prevention Police since 2024, following a previous arrest in Germany.
Evidence from the inquiry indicated that the young man had shown persistent support for ISIS and had openly declared his desire to act on behalf of the organization. Further investigations uncovered that he had communicated through a messaging platform with an alleged ISIS supporter, who purportedly offered him training and financial resources for an attack, either within Italy or abroad. After being expelled from Germany for being deemed a social risk, the suspect returned to Italy in January, where he was placed in a support and rehabilitation program by local authorities and social services in Reggio Emilia. However, this program was halted after counterterrorism investigators traced his phone number in conversations allegedly tied to planning an attack.
Law enforcement officials seized the suspect’s phone, and after a detention hearing held on the morning following his arrest, an investigating judge ordered him to be held in pre-trial detention. Authorities continue to pursue the investigation.
As reported by en.yabiladi.com.
