Italian police announce global swoop on ‘jihadist network’

Authorities in several European nations arrested more than a dozen people Thursday accused of having connections with a terror group that allegedly aims to help ISIS take over Kurdish portions of Iraq, Italian authorities said.

British police confirmed that counter-terrorism units had arrested three men in their 30s and a 52-year-old from four locations in the Midlands and northern England.

Six countries were involved in the investigations: Britain, Norway, Finland, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Italian officials said Rawti Shax essentially stems from Ansar al Islam, which fought against the new Iraqi government after a U.S.-led invasion toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003.

The arrests took place in Italy, Britain, and Norway as part of a multination crackdown against an alleged online recruitment ring operated by Sunni Kurdish extremists.

The group has been said to focus on recruiting militants in Italy and other European countries and helping them join Islamic radical forces in Syria and Iraq, according to Italian police.

A 38-year-old man was arrested in Hull, a 32-year-old man was arrested in Derby and a 33-year-old man was arrested in Birmingham.

A Norwegian court sentenced Ahmad to 18 months in prison last month for praising the deadly attacks on the Paris offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January.

“This is the most noteworthy global cops operation in Europe in 20 years”, Italian anti-terrorism chief Giuseppe Governale told a news source conference in Rome.

Norwegian authorities said they would facilitate a request for his extradition to Italy, but there had never been a “concrete or acute threat” against any Norwegian citizens or interests.

Authorities say wiretap evidence suggests that Faraj “continued to lead the organization from behind bars”.

A statement from the North East Counter Terrorism Unit said: “We understand that people may be concerned following today’s arrests”.

Ahmad was jailed earlier this year after being found guilty of urging others to kill a Kurdish immigrant in Norway.

The arrests also come as ISIS reportedly threatens to launch attacks inside of Russian Federation for its airstrikes against the group-and others-in Syria on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad.