21-Year-Old Italo-Moroccan Detained for Terrorism Suspicions
In a troubling development, a 21-year-old Italo-Moroccan man has been apprehended by authorities in Milan on suspicion of international terrorism. This arrest follows alarming statements he made on social media, where he expressed intentions to replicate the tragic car-ramming incident that occurred in Modena on May 16. That attack, perpetrated by another Italo-Moroccan individual, resulted in injuries to eight people, including two female tourists who suffered severe leg injuries. The arrested individual glorified such acts of violence, referencing terrorist attacks conducted by the Islamic State against 'Christians' and the 'West,' while encouraging notions of 'martyrdom.'
According to the investigation led by Prosecutors Alessandro Gobbis and Marcello Viola, this young man, who was born in Italy to Moroccan parents and resides in the Brianza region, had allegedly been planning a trip to Morocco on June 9. His social media posts included ominous suggestions that he was poised to take immediate action, raising serious alarms among law enforcement.
The Modena incident itself was a chaotic scene, with eight victims, four of whom sustained critical injuries. Among the injured were five women and three men, with victims transported to hospitals in Modena and Bologna. The most grievously injured were two female tourists, aged 69 and 53, from Poland and Germany, respectively, both of whom faced amputations due to the severity of their injuries. The initial attacker, Salim El Koudri, a 31-year-old Italian citizen of Moroccan descent, was reported to have a history of mental health issues and was unemployed at the time of the attack. He was detained after being restrained by bystanders, including individuals of Egyptian and Pakistani descent, following an earlier stabbing incident, leading to charges of attempted murder. However, the court did not classify his actions under terrorism as it was believed he acted during a psychotic episode.
As reported by ansa.it.
