This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1282

The European terrorist Union : Three terrorists arrrested in Italy "ready to strike" had been staying in France and Norway

Islamists create terror front : Muslim communities in Europe serve as mobile bases for terrorism
November 17, 2005

ITALY: ARRESTED ALGERIANS WERE "READY TO STRIKE" SAY INVESTIGATORS

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.229775359&par=0

Naples, 17 Nov. (AKI) - Three Algerian men arrested in the Italian cities of Naples and Brescia on Tuesday night, suspected of being linked with an Algerian group connected to al-Qaeda, were due to appear before magistrates in Naples on Thursday. The men are suspected of being members of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). Investigators say they were not just in Italy to provide logistical support such as false documents, but were actually "potential operatives" who were "ready to attack".

Naples named the three arrested suspects as Yamine Bouhrama, Khaled Serai and Mohamed Larbi. They were detained on suspicion of association with the aim of international terrorism, a charge introduced in Italy following the September 11, 2001 attacks in America.

Anti-terrorism Carabinieri officers arrested one man in Naples and the other two in Brescia following three years of surveillance of a GSPC cell by the Italian intelligence service SISMI. The three suspects are believed to have moved around between the cities of Naples, Rome, Brescia and Vicenza.

Bourhama is thought to have undergone training at terrorist camps in Chechnya and Georgia and may be capable of making explosive belts used by suicide bombers.

While under surveillance, Serai is believed to have been followed to Norway, where Mullah Krekar, an Iraqi Kurd who heads the radical Islamic militia group Ansar al-Islam, has lived since requesting political asylum in 1991, despite being wanted around the world. The US has accused Ansar al-Islam of offering sanctuary to al-Qaeda fighters fleeing Afghanistan, including the now leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat is the main armed Islamic organisation in Algeria and its aims are reported to include replacing the Algerian government with an Islamic state and attacking Western interests in the region. The GSPC has been on America's list of "terrorist groups" since 2002 and is said to have extensive contacts in Europe, the US and the Middle East, as well as being linked to the al-Qaeda terror network.

--------------------------------

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4444456.stm

Italy holds three terror suspects

Italy tightened security following the London bombings Three Algerians have been arrested in Italy on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. The men were detained in Naples and Brescia, and were "potentially operative", police said. They had contacts with Algeria's Salafist movement, which is believed to have links to al-Qaeda, police added. Italy has moved before against suspected Islamic extremists, arresting an imam and five other men in June who were suspected of Salafist connections. The men were named as Yamine Bouhrama, Khaled Serai and Mohamed Larbi, reports Italian news agency Ansa, quoting Naples police. The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) is the main armed Islamic organisation in Algeria. It reportedly wants to topple the Algerian government, create an Islamic state and attack Western interests in the region. Italy, which has a 3,000-strong military contingent in Iraq, has stepped up security following the 7 July London bombings. It has conducted several emergency drills in major cities to test its response to a terrorist attack. ---------------------------------------------------

Norway link to terror suspects

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1158642.ece