Italy has arrested two suspected supporters of the Takfiri ISIL terror group, who had reportedly plans to carry out ISIL-style attacks against different sites in the country, including a military air base.
The suspects, a Tunisian and a Pakistani, were detained in the northern Italy province of Brescia, the outskirts of which is home to the Ghedi Air Base with US military presence.
They used to run a Twitter account through which they posted threatening messages in the name of the Takfiri group.
The account contained pictures of handwritten notes reading, “We are in your streets,” against the background of monuments, train stations and other sites in Milan.
Targets identified with the account also include Italy’s historical monuments such as the Duomo Cathedral Church in Milan and Rome’s Colosseum.
Anti-terrorism prosecutor Maurizio Romanelli also said authorities had picked up telephone conversations, in which the suspects discussed attacks on several targets, including the airbase.
Officials said the detainees were making plans to travel to the territory under the control of the ISIL to receive military training.
Romanelli, however, said, “There was never a danger situation for these targets.”
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano hailed the police work, saying, “Our monitoring system has once again proved its effectiveness.”
The ISIL terrorists control swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq. They are engaged in crimes against humanity in the areas under their control. The terror group is seeking to spread its terror activities to other parts of the world.