Carabinieri paramilitary police
have busted an alleged Neofascist terror gang that was
apparently stockpiling weapons "like toffees" for use in attacks
on magistrates, police and Equitalia tax collection agency in an
effort to destabilise the country, police said Monday.
At least 14 people have been arrested in the Abruzzo region
and elsewhere, including Rutilio Sermonti, a former member of
the banned Ordine Nuovo (New Order) far-right group that carried
out a string of terror attacks in the 1970s and 1980s in an
effort to restore the Fascist regime of wartime dictator Benito
Mussolini.
Sermonti, a prolific writer, called for a new party to be
formed while the military leader of the group was identified as
former Carabinieri officer Stefano Manni.
Investigators tapped conversations between Manni and
another suspect, Franco Grespi, in which they referred to AK-47
assault rifles as "toffees" that they were trying to buy in
Slovenia as well as explosives for bomb attacks.
"This the moment to strike, but not blindly," Manni was
quoted as saying.
"Banks, prefectures, police stations, Equitalia offices
with their employees inside need to be hit".
Equitalia already has been attacked by anarchist urban
guerrillas in the past.
The suspects allegedly belonged on an illegal group that
was inspired by the ideals of the disbanded "Ordine Nuovo" (New
Order) organisation and was allegedly plotting "violent actions
against institutional targets", according to the warrants issued
by magistrates in the central city of L'Aquila.
At the same time, the group also aimed to put their own in
power "via regular elections with the presentation of a new
party", according to the warrants.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
