Abu Sayyaf Living in Germany - Possible AQIM Links in Italy as Well

Algeria: Al-Qaeda had 'contacts' with militants in Italy

Algiers, 9 June (AKI) - Algerian police have said that Al-Qaeda militants in the capital Algiers are in contact with members who live in Italy and Germany.

According to the Algerian daily el-Khabar, members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb include young people in their 30's who are living abroad.

• The Algerian daily does not specify the number of members in the group, but it mentions Nasim, also known as Abu Sayyaf, who currently lives in Germany and was recently in Algeria to make contact with AQIM leaders.

• Police said inquiries revealed a link between the AQIM cell in Algiers and some Algerian citizens recently arrested in Italy.

Last week, Italian police issued arrest warrants for five North Africans accused of plotting terror attacks in the northern cities of Milan and Bologna in early 2006.

It is not known whether the arrests were linked to the cell in Algiers.

• The five were alleged to have planned attacks against the subway system in Milan and the San Petronio cathedral in Bologna which dates back to 1390.
• Police claimed the five were part of an international group which is active in Algeria, Morocco and Syria.

The Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb evolved from the Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat, initially formed to create an Islamic state in Algeria, but is now believed to have more widespread goals.

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