12 Nov 2015

Four arrested in connection with counter-terror operation

Four men have been arrested in the UK in connection with a counter-terrorism operation led by Italian authorities this morning.

Poilceman and barricade tape

The men were detained on Thursday morning under European arrest warrants by police from the North East Counter and West Midlands Counter Terrorism Units.

The suspects are aged 38, 32, 33 and 52, and were held at addresses in Hull, Derby, Birmingham and Sheffield respectively. It is understood that none are British nationals.

A spokeswoman for the North East CTU said the four men would now appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

She added: “We understand that people may be concerned following today’s arrests, however we would like to reassure communities that today’s activity is as a result of an ongoing investigation which is intelligence-led.

“There is no evidence to suggest that communities are at risk.”

The EU’s judicial co-operation agency, Eurojust, has said a total of 13 people have been arrested in Italy, Norway and the UK as part of an investigation into a group called Rawti Shax, which it described as a “terrorist organisation of Kurdish-Sunni origin”.

It added: “”The arrested persons are charged with international terrorism.”

‘Al-Qaeda affiliates’

In addition Italian, German, Finnish, Norwegian, Swiss and UK authorities conducted searches of a total of 26 premises and seized several items, including electronic devices and documents.

Some of the suspects could not be located, as they are believed to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join jihadist organisations, according to Eurojust.

“There is no evidence to suggest that communities are at risk.”

The agency said Rawti Shax or Didi Nwe – meaning the “new course” or “towards the mountain” – represents an evolution of Ansar Al Islam, which is listed by the UN as a terrorist organisation affiliated with al-Qaeda.

It added: “Its primary objective is to violently overthrow the current Iraqi Kurdish government and replace it with a caliphate governed by Sharia law.

“According to the Italian investigation, unlike Ansar Al Islam, Rawti Shax arose and is rooted in Europe, with cells communicating and operating via the internet, with a structure active especially in Germany, Switzerland, the UK, Finland, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Iraq, Iran and Syria.

“As the group evolved, it became active in providing logistical and financial support to recruiting foreign terrorist fighters to be sent to Syria and Iraq, also with the intent of training them for the future conflict in Kurdistan.”

The operation was launched under the direction of the Public Prosecution Office in Rome.