Italian police arrest French al Qaeda suspect in Naples

Reuters * Man, 24, of North African origin, detained in Naples * Believed to
be recruiter, trainer * Arrest coincides with threat alert in western Europe

NAPLES (Reuters) - Italian antiterrorist police have arrested a French man
suspected of belonging to al Qaeda and capable of securing explosives,
sources close to the investigation said on Sunday.
The operation took place in a night raid in Naples between Sept 4 and 5 and
France has filed a request for extradition of the 24-year-old suspect, who
was of North African origin and considered dangerous, the sources said.
"In France, he is accused of participating in subversive activities," one
source said.
There was no word on whether the man was linked to any immediate threat but
news of the arrest coincides with a heightened alert over security in
western Europe.
Last month, French authorities said they had received news that a suicide
bomber was preparing to attack the Paris metro system and Western
intelligence sources also said they had uncovered plans for a coordinated
attack on European cities.
Police declined to give details of the Naples arrest but the sources said he
had been under observation since late August and computer materials had been
seized from the place where he was staying in the city centre.
Elements in the Naples investigation linked the arrested man, identified
only as R.H., to the possible use of explosives, one source said.
"He had equipment that could be used to measure out commercially available
components that would allow the construction of a bomb similar to the one at
the Santa Barbara barracks in Milan," the source said.
In 2005, a Libyan man threw a homemade bomb at the army barracks in Milan,
losing a hand in the explosion and slightly injuring a soldier.
Intelligence reports and arrests show militant Islamic groups linked to al
Qaeda, especially in North Africa, have been active in Italy, mostly
recruiting and financing for attacks planned elsewhere in Europe.
Italian troops are stationed in Afghanistan and Lebanon, but Italy pulled
out of Iraq in 2006. "Our hypothesis is that he came to Italy to recruit and
train others and to pick up false documents and weapons as other individuals
we have investigated have," one of the sources said.

Italian Interior Minister Maroni was quoted in a newspaper interview Sunday
as saying Italy is "prepared" for a terrorist attack. "But - as shown by
what happened last year in Milan when a foreigner blew himself up in front
of a military barracks - the situation is complicated."
Last year, a Libyan man set off a small bomb while trying to enter an army
barracks in Milan, seriously injuring himself and slightly wounding the
guard who stopped him. Maroni said at the time that the man appeared to be
opposed to Italy's military missions overseas. Two other North Africans were
also arrested in the case.