Last Updated: Tuesday, 24 June, 2003, 17:16 GMT 18:16 UK
Imam held in Italy terror swoop
The suspects are accused of helping an Algerian militant group
An imam and five other men have been arrested in a series of
anti-terror raids in Italy.
Police say they are investigating possible links with Osama Bin Laden
and the al-Qaeda terror network.
The raids were launched at dawn on 40 sites, including a mosque, in
and around the northern city of Milan.
The detained imam was named as as Moroccan Mohamed el Mahfoudi, 38, of
Gallarate mosque on the outskirts of the city.
Five Tunisians were also held.
The raids were "were part of a major operation against international
terrorism" co-ordinated by Milan prosecutor Luigi Orsi, said a police
statement.
The raids were staged in and around Milan
The suspects are accused of providing financial and logistical support
to a militant Algerian group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and
Combat (GSPC).
A judicial source said a seventh suspect was still being sought.
The charges against them are said to include abetting and financing a
terrorist organisation, false accounting, involvement in illegal
immigration, receiving counterfeit documents and trafficking in stolen
cars.
A police source said the men were not themselves suspected of carrying
out terror attacks.
But police are investigating whether they were running businesses and
other activities as "fronts" to raise money for the militants.
Wider inquiry
Bank accounts in at least 16 countries in Europe, the Middle East and
North America are thought to be under scrutiny, as police probe what
they believe is a complex web of financial dealing.
Possible ties to key 11 September suspect Ramzi Binalshibh are also
being examined.
A Tunisian man was jailed in Milan last year for criminal association
aimed at producing counterfeit documents and involvement in illegal
immigration to Italy.
At the time of his arrest in April 2001, the man, 34-year-old Essid
Sami bin Khemais, was thought by judges to be linked to Osama Bin
Laden's al-Qaeda network, although terror charges against him were not
pursued.
About 170 Italian officers took part in the Milan raids, led by
financial police.
THEY TALK SUCH NONSENCE ITS UNBELIEVABLE
"JerkCumMeLeeo" <nyuntaye2003@no-spam> wrote in message
news:66d62531.0306241058.2e3b8ca3@no-spam
> Last Updated: Tuesday, 24 June, 2003, 17:16 GMT 18:16 UK
>
>
> Imam held in Italy terror swoop
>
>
> The suspects are accused of helping an Algerian militant group
> An imam and five other men have been arrested in a series of
> anti-terror raids in Italy.
> Police say they are investigating possible links with Osama Bin Laden
> and the al-Qaeda terror network.
>
> The raids were launched at dawn on 40 sites, including a mosque, in
> and around the northern city of Milan.
>
> The detained imam was named as as Moroccan Mohamed el Mahfoudi, 38, of
> Gallarate mosque on the outskirts of the city.
>
> Five Tunisians were also held.
>
> The raids were "were part of a major operation against international
> terrorism" co-ordinated by Milan prosecutor Luigi Orsi, said a police
> statement.
>
>
> The raids were staged in and around Milan
> The suspects are accused of providing financial and logistical support
> to a militant Algerian group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and
> Combat (GSPC).
>
> A judicial source said a seventh suspect was still being sought.
>
> The charges against them are said to include abetting and financing a
> terrorist organisation, false accounting, involvement in illegal
> immigration, receiving counterfeit documents and trafficking in stolen
> cars.
>
> A police source said the men were not themselves suspected of carrying
> out terror attacks.
>
> But police are investigating whether they were running businesses and
> other activities as "fronts" to raise money for the militants.
>
> Wider inquiry
>
> Bank accounts in at least 16 countries in Europe, the Middle East and
> North America are thought to be under scrutiny, as police probe what
> they believe is a complex web of financial dealing.
>
> Possible ties to key 11 September suspect Ramzi Binalshibh are also
> being examined.
>
> A Tunisian man was jailed in Milan last year for criminal association
> aimed at producing counterfeit documents and involvement in illegal
> immigration to Italy.
>
> At the time of his arrest in April 2001, the man, 34-year-old Essid
> Sami bin Khemais, was thought by judges to be linked to Osama Bin
> Laden's al-Qaeda network, although terror charges against him were not
> pursued.
>
> About 170 Italian officers took part in the Milan raids, led by
> financial police.