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Europe
Eurocops bust al-Qaeda cell
2003-11-29
Police in Italy and Germany have arrested three North Africans suspected of recruiting suicide bombers for attacks linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Guess the Ansar al-Islam #3 is feeling chatty after all ...
"We have managed to break up a mujahideen recruiting centre," Italy’s interior minister announced. The ring’s suspected leader, an Algerian known as "the Sheikh", was picked up in Hamburg early on Friday. A Moroccan and a Tunisian were detained in Milan late on Thursday but two other suspects managed to elude capture. The Italian authorities say the police sweep was jeopardised when news of the operation leaked to the media.
Loose lips sink ships, people.
An Iraqi male suspect and a Tunisian female suspect remain at large and may have fled the country, the interior ministry said, confirming that five arrest warrants had been issued. The arrests come just over two weeks after a suicide bombing killed 19 Italian soldiers and policemen in Nasiriya, southern Iraq. Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said the alleged ring had been recruiting inside Italy. "People were being approached in Italy and then being sent to training camps in north-eastern Iraq," he said. "They were being given training by a group known as Ansar al-Islam... which is known to be allied to al-Qaeda."
I think it would be a really good idea to find out where those camps are, since we're supposed to be in control of the country. I'd also be curious as to how many Komala and Jamaat Islami yokels are involved.
One of the Italian intelligence services said it believed the suspected terror cell had already recruited Islamic militants who had committed suicide missions in Iraq.
And now we know where all of those bombers were coming from ...
The Algerian suspect, 30-year-old Mahjub Abderrazak, had previously been detained in Hamburg in July on suspicion of involvement with bomb attacks in Spain but was released due to lack of evidence. He now faces possible extradition to Italy.
Oh goody, more "North Africans" ...
Those arrested in Milan were identified by Italian officials as 20-year-old Housni Jamal from Morocco and 33-year-old Tunisian Bouyahia Maher Ben Abdelaziz. Reports say that a sixth suspect, a Tunisian man, was arrested last Saturday for allegedly providing logistical support and papers to the other five.
I wonder if he was arrested by carabinieri? They'd have an incentive to make him sing...
The BBC’s Frances Kennedy in Rome says the Milan prosecutor’s office has launched an inquiry into how news of the planned arrests was leaked before the police operation had even begun.
Mahmoud the Weasel, I'd guess. Which cop shop is running an affirmative action program?
They are being charged with subversive association aimed at international terrorism. This is not the first time the Italian authorities have drawn a link between Islamic extremists in Italy and suicide attacks in Iraq. In April, they said extremists were being approached in Italy and Germany and sent to training camps in Syria before joining a group connected with al-Qaeda in northern Iraq.
Funny, I don’t recall hearing about the Syrians running training camps for these folks ...
UK police are meanwhile questioning a man suspected of having al-Qaeda links, who was arrested at a house in Gloucester, western England, where explosive materials were found on Thursday.
This is the other, separate, case...
The 24-year-old is being investigated for possible links with British man Richard Reid, who was convicted of trying to blow up a plane with explosives hidden in his shoes.
What's this thing Islamists have with blowing their feet off?
It has also emerged that a 33-year-old man has been arrested under the Terrorism Act in the city of Birmingham, central England.
It sounds like they're getting cheesed at this nonsense...
Posted by:Dan Darling

#4  "Yes, he's the sheikh
of Tuscaneeeee!"
Posted by: Fred   2003-11-29 5:46:14 PM  

#3  Damnit Raj! EarWorm Alert!
Posted by: Shipman   2003-11-29 12:44:46 PM  

#2  "Oh yes, they call him The Sheik,
fastest thing on two feet..."

Uh, not this time!
Posted by: Raj   2003-11-29 11:40:49 AM  

#1  Can you imagine the training of the smilling idiots. "Now Momah, Put the belt on thusly, yes well done, now put the coat on, very well my brother. This is the button, STOP, NOT YET! Oh you little fool, you had me worried! Just like your leettle brother, may allah bless...Hokay rrready."
Posted by: Lucky   2003-11-29 1:15:51 AM  

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