‘Dangerous’ trio planned to bombVenice bridge

ITALIAN police said they have arrested three Kosovars in Venice after one was caught on a phone intercept proposing they bomb the Rialto Bridge while others lauded the recent attack in London.

Venice prosecutor Adelchi d’Ippolito said a search of an apartment in the city showed the suspects were getting in physical shape and watching videos of Islamic extremists on how to carry out knife attacks.

He said a phone intercept caught one saying: “You’ll go straight to paradise because of all the infidels in Venice. Put a bomb on the Rialto.” A minor was also detained. The 16th-century arched bridge is one of Venice’s main tourist draws, spanning the Grand Canal with small shops either side of its steps.

Authorities said the suspects – identified as Fisnik Bekaj, Dake Haziraj and Arjan Babaj – spoke among themselves about being ready to die for the jihadist cause and becoming particularly inspired after the recent attack in London.

Mr D’Ippolito said the suspects were “truly dangerous” and were suspected of plotting attacks both in Italy and overseas. He added that they would not have been able to carry out an attack in Italy as they were under such tight surveillance.

Italian police have made several arrests in recent years of suspected Islamic extremists, on allegations of recruiting fighters for jihad in Syria and Iraq, radicalising others or plotting attacks domestically.

Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro said all those detained in the sweep on Thursday had regular residency permits to live in Italy. He added that, in addition to the detentions, police searched 12 sites in Venice’s centre, Mestre and nearby Treviso.