European Anti-Terror Sweep

Tue, Nov 6, 2007 at 9:42:56 am PST

Italian police headed up a large sweep of terror suspects in several European countries today, arresting 20 Islamic extremists who were in the process of setting up terrorist recruitment and training cells.

Two men have been arrested in Britain as part of a European anti-terror operation led by Italian police.

A total of 20 suspected Islamic extremists were arrested across Italy, Britain, France and Portugal today on charges ranging from association with the aim of committing international terrorism, to falsifying documents to aid illegal immigrants.

Police believe the detainees had been setting up “Salafist jihadi” militant cells, which have recruited and assisted would-be suicide bombers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The operation, ordered by Milan prosecutors, targeted the northern Italian cities of Milan, Bergamo, Varese and Reggio Emilia as well as Britain, France and Portugal.

Italian police said they had seized poisons, remote ignition devices for explosives, and manuals on guerrilla warfare and how to produce explosives.

The suspects are also accused of illegal immigration, falsifying identity documents and helping to hide people sought for terrorist activity.

In Britain, the Metropolitan Police extradition unit arrested a 34-year-old man in Croydon, and a 53-year-old man in Manchester.