Italian investigators say that Islamic militants linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network had planned an attack on a church in Bologna, one of the northern cities of Italy. They discovered this attack, which was to be carried out by an al-Qaeda terrorist cell based in Milan, by listening to phone conversations between several Tunisians and Moroccans with a Libyan individual identified only as 'Hamza.' 'Hamza' is considered one of Osama bin Laden's operational leaders in Europe. The Milan newspaper 'Corriere della Sera' reports that 'Hamza' was arrested in Britain last month. According to the newspaper, the San Petronio Basilica in Bologna was targeted because it depicts the Prophet of Islam in hell in a 15th-century watercolor, being dragged into the abyss by demons.
Islamic Militants' Plan to Attack a Church in Bologna, Italy - 2002-06-24
Italian authorities uncovered a plot by al-Qaeda-linked Islamic militants to attack the San Petronio Basilica in Bologna due to its controversial depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. The plot was linked to a Libyan operative named 'Hamza,' who was recently arrested in the UK. This incident highlights ongoing threats from extremist groups in Europe.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Islamic militants linked to al-Qaeda planned an attack on a church in Bologna, Italy.
- al-Qaeda terrorist cell attack San Petronio Basilica, Bologna
- British authorities arrest Hamza
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The planned attack reflects the operational capabilities of al-Qaeda in Europe.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%