Prosecutors believe that a
Moroccan national arrested in Genoa in July on domestic abuse
charges was a returning foreign fighter who wanted to "self
immolate" in a terrorist attack for ISIS in Italy.
As a result a Genoa judge has issued a new arrest warrant
for 29-year-old Nabil Benhamir, who has been in prison for
months in relation to allegations of violence against his former
partner.
Benhamir is suspected of being a "major figure" in ISIS who
returned to Europe "with the aim of training other members of
the Islamic State to produce and use explosives", according to
prosecutors.
Searches uncovered instructions on how to ignite explosives
with old cell phones, one of which was in the man's possession,
videos of suicide attacks, the 'wills' of other suicide
attackers and WhatsApp communications that allegedly suggest he
had a mandate for action in Italy.
The investigation was conducted with the cooperation of
Europol, the FBI and the Dutch police.
Police said Benhamir had received "the call" to action and
was awaiting instructions on how to carry out terror acts.
"'Nabil writes to sister Farah: the caller has called...I
must go to work...Inshallah, may God prolong my age and destiny.
Pray for me,'", documents drafted by prosecutors on the basis of
wiretaps said.
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