Afghan militants held in Italy targeted London

Police in the port city of Bari in southern Italy have arrested two Afghan men suspected of plotting jihadist attacks in Italy, France and the UK. Three other Afghans are still being sought, two of whom may have gone back to Afghanistan, Italian media report. Video clips and photos on the two detainees’ mobile phones […]

Police in the port city of Bari in southern Italy have arrested two Afghan men suspected of plotting jihadist attacks in Italy, France and the UK.
Three other Afghans are still being sought, two of whom may have gone back to Afghanistan, Italian media report.
Video clips and photos on the two detainees’ mobile phones suggest that they were targeting landmarks in Bari, Rome, Paris and London for attacks.
They included hotels in London’s West India Quay and Royal Victoria Dock.
The detained suspects were named as Hakim Nasiri, 23, and Gulistan Ahmadzai, 29.
Several photos released by police show Mr Nasiri posing with a rifle in a shop or warehouse.
The apparent targets they picked in Rome were the Circus Maximus and Colosseum. Police believe the Afghans had formed a jihadist cell linked to so-called Islamic State (IS).