(By Denis Greenan). Italian police on Thursday busted a Venice terror cell that was allegedly planning to blow up the lagoon city's iconic Rialto Bridge.
Two of the four Kosovars in the suspected terror cell were caught on tape saying "in Venice you immediately earn paradise because of the number of unbelievers here. Put a bomb on the Rialto Bridge". The wiretap remark was reported by interim Venice chief prosecutor Adelchi D'Ippolito at a press conference. The magistrate underscored that the four Kosovars - three adults and a minor - were engaged "in a full-blown activity of self-training in order to prepare to carry out criminal activities and terror attacks on the one hand through physical exercises and on the other by viewing videos of ISIS fundamentalists who explained how to use knives, how you kill with a knife". It has also been established, Adelchi said, that the four carried out simulations to build home-made explosives. "On the part of all the members there was a great adherence to the ISIS ideology and support for the recent attacks, in particular the one in London on March 22 which received great backing and appreciation", he added.
In the operation, Venice anti-mafia and anti-terror units worked in "close liaison" with Italian police and Carabinieri, and moved in after "blanket" surveillance of the alleged cell, police said. Three people were arrested and a minor detained in the operation, all originally from Kosovo and regularly resident in Italy. Twelve raids were carried out: 10 in Venice's historic centre, one in nearby Mestre and one in Treviso to the north, police said. The operation succeeded in "reconstructing the relationship dynamics and the religious radicalisation of the various individuals as well as the places they frequented," police said.
Central terror prevention staff, Carabinieri sniffer-dog units, bomb squads and forensics police also took part in the operation. Also taking part were special units of Italy's security police belonging to the Polizia di Stato and the Carabinieri, the NOCS and GIS units respectively. The jihadi cell was busted in the small hours of the night when raids were carried out in the homes of those under investigation, police said. Police are now examining material seized during the raids.
Italy has upped security against jihadi cells following the Westminster attack in which a lone wolf killed four people.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro complimented police on a "brilliant operation that has smashed an extremely dangerous groups".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
