| Submit your comments on this article |
| Down Under |
| Italy convicts 2 on terrorism charges |
| 2005-07-13 |
| An Italian judge on Wednesday convicted two North Africans of belonging to an extremist cell alleged to have planned attacks in Italy, including one against Milan's subway. Judge Silvia Milesi sentenced the defendants -- Moroccan Mohamed Rafik and Tunisian Kamel Hamraoui -- to up to four years and eight months in prison, a defense lawyer said. A third suspect, Tunisian Najib Rouass, was sentenced to one year and two months in prison on the lesser charge of inciting violence, while a fourth, Tunisian Romdhane Ben Othmane Khir, was acquitted, said lawyer Ilaria Crema. All defendants denied the charges, and those convicted are expected to appeal the ruling. Prosecutor Roberto Di Martino described the verdict as a "balanced ruling." The trial in Brescia, about 96 kilometers (60 miles) east of Milan, drew to a close amid renewed fears of an attack in Italy and increased security across the country following the London bombings last week. Earlier Wednesday, Italian police carried out raids against suspected Islamic extremists, conducting about 200 searches across the nation, the Interior Ministry said. No arrests were reported, but the Interior Ministry said that 174 people were being questioned. The four suspects in Brescia had been granted at their request a fast-track trial that allows for lesser sentences if suspects are convicted. Six other North Africans, believed to have belonged to the same cell, are being tried in nearby Cremona, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Milan. Among them is Moroccan Ahmed El Bouhali, who disappeared in 2001 and was considered by investigators the cell's leader. He is being tried in absentia. Investigators have said the cell was connected to international terrorist networks for which it raised money, faked identity documents and recruited extremists to fight abroad. Members of the cell also discussed attacking Milan's subway and the cathedral in Cremona in October 2002, authorities have alleged. Di Martino, the prosecutor, said the cell was believed to also have contacts with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, without elaborating. Most of Italy's anti-terror probes have been based in northern Italy, especially in and around the Milan area. Authorities say that Italy mainly served as a base of logistical support. Both Rafik and Hamraoui were arrested in 2003 as part of their investigation into the alleged extremist cell, based in Cremona. Rafik, who has lived in Italy since 1998, served as imam in Florence before moving to Cremona. Considered a key suspect in the case, he was given a sentence of four years and eight months in prison, while Hamraoui was sentenced to three years and four months. Rafik is alleged to have ties to the Muslim extremist movement Salafia Jihadia, which Moroccan officials have blamed for the 2003 bombings in Casablanca. He denied any involvement. Italy's highest court has rejected an extradition request issued by Moroccan authorities. Prosecutors had requested a nine-year sentence for Rafik and a sentence of four years and six months for Hamraoui. Milesi's reasoning on her verdict must be released within 90 days. Officials said the verdict was one of the first convictions under Italy's international terrorism charge, which allows for stiffer sentences and was enacted after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. The ANSA news agency said the only previous conviction on the charge was the result of a plea bargain. Prosecutors have sought sentences under the charge for many other suspects who have either been acquitted or sentenced on lesser charges. Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu called Tuesday for modifications to the international terrorism charge so it could be used more easily against loosely knit international terrorist groups, such as those linked to al Qaeda. Pisanu was briefing the Italian parliament on proposals for tightening security following last week's deadly bombings in London. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |