Italy: Counterterrorism raids continue March 30 /update 2

Event

Early on Friday, March 30, Italian police arrested a Moroccan man in a raid in Fossano (Piedmont region). The arrest is the latest in a series, part of a large counterterror operation ongoing in Italy since March 26. The Moroccan man has been accused of spreading pro-jihadist propaganda. The operations come ahead of the Easter holiday weekend (March 30 to April 1) and amid fears that Islamist terrorists could use the occasion to carry out attacks across Europe. Increased security measures are expected in crowded areas and around places of worship in the coming days.

Context

Five Tunisian nationals were arrested on terrorism charges on March 29 in Rome and Latina in connection with the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack, an Italian-Moroccan man with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) was arrested March 28 in Turin, and a man of Egyptian descent was arrest on March 27 in Foggia.

The Italian Minister of the Interior has stated that the threat posed by IS sympathizers in Italy is the highest it has ever been, with former fighters likely to return to Italy following major territorial losses by IS in Iraq and Syria.

Advice

Due to the terrorist threat, individuals in Italy are advised to report all suspicious objects and behavior to the relevant authorities.