Palestinian Arrested in Terror Plot in Italy

A Palestinian man was arrested by Italian authorities on Wednesday on suspicion that he was plotting to poison water supplies, according to media reports.

The man, 38, who reportedly has links to Islamic State, was apprehended after it was learned that he planned a terror attack using deadly toxins ricin and anthrax on the island of Sardinia. Targets included the central island town of Macomer and a nearby military base, state anti-terror prosecutor Federico Cafiero de Raho said at a press conference.

The suspect was identified by the Il Fatto Quotidiano daily as Alaji Aminun, a Palestinian refugee from Lebanon, who moved to Macomer in Sardinia.

De Raho also said that he planned the attack in collusion with his cousin, who resides in Lebanon. Italian acted on information furnished by Interpol, who learned of it from Lebanese authorities in September when Aminun’s cousin was arrested.

It was not clear when Aminun planned to carry out the attack, but De Raho said police believed he wanted the poisoning to coincide with a holiday.

Italy’s anti-terror unit arrested Aminun in downtown Macomer earlier on Wednesday after tracking him for an unspecified amount of time.

Authorities confirmed that Aminun held an Italian residency visa, and had moved to Sardinia from Lebanon several years ago. He resided in Macomer.