Italian anti-terrorism police said on Friday they had arrested a Tunisian citizen suspected of working as an “organizer” for the Islamic State group, which they said was planning to attack Italy.
The resident of Cosenza, in the southern region of Calabria was wanted by Tunisia “for having been involved in terrorist activities,” police said in a statement.
The suspect was “determined to carry out a terrorist act in Italy in the near future,” police said.
The arrested man, whom they said had a role of “organiser” in the group, had professed to be a Salafist, an ultraconservative Sunni Islamist movement that seeks a society under Islamic law.
Poliziotti #Digos di Catanzaro e Cosenza, in collaborazione con #Dcpp, hanno fermato un cittadino tunisino accusato di far parte dell’Isis e che si era dichiarato pronto a compiere un attentato terroristico in Italia.https://t.co/M63gPZ4sgl#essercisempre #18aprile pic.twitter.com/ZWUnwuTwAs
— Polizia di Stato (@poliziadistato) April 18, 2025
Through wiretaps and other surveillance, police were able to track “the existence and operation of a criminal structure suitable for carrying out terrorist acts.”
The group “carried out proselytism and indoctrination activities” as well as military training, the statement said.
Police said the suspect possessed footage of attacks and warfare, jihadist propaganda and documents showing how to make explosives and weapons.
A preliminary investigation is ongoing, police said.
