Moroccan national arrested in Italy on terrorism-related charges

A 46-year-old man, of Moroccan origin and residing in Brescia, Italy, was arrested by the State Police on charges of training for activities related to terrorism, including international terrorism.

The arrest, announced by police in a statement shared on Thursday, followed a custody order issued by the preliminary investigations judge of the Perugia court.

The man had been under investigation by the Operations Center for Cyber Security (COSC) in Perugia and the anti-terrorism section of the DIGOS in Brescia, in collaboration with the Central Postal and Communications Police Service.

The investigation, which began in November 2023, revealed the suspect’s involvement in WhatsApp groups linked to the Islamic State, accessed by invitation only.

A search of his garage uncovered numerous handwritten notes praising martyrdom and holy war. Forensic analysis of his phone revealed membership in these WhatsApp groups and the storage of jihadist propaganda material. His online searches included manuals for making homemade weapons, confirming his connection to jihadist networks and the promotion of terrorist actions linked to the Islamic State.