Italy Arrests Egyptian Linked to Bin Laden

Italian authorities have arrested an Egyptian man said to be a key member of a European Islamic network that helped militants reach Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda training camps, officials said Saturday.

Border police arrested Samir Kishk, 46, at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport Friday evening as he was boarding a plane for Paris, where he lives, a statement from the Interior Ministry said. He had just arrived from Cairo.

Kishk had escaped arrest during an October sweep in Milan of people suspected of links with Bin Laden’s terrorist network. The Interior Ministry said he was accused of criminal association with the aim of trafficking in arms, explosives, dangerous chemicals, identity papers and facilitating illegal immigration.

The investigation showed that Kishk, also known as Hammada, played a top role in Bin Laden’s European organization.

“In particular, the suspect represented the principal branch of the group in French territory, where he procured false documents and furnished logistical support to militants about to reach Al Qaeda training camps or places of combat,” the statement said.

Kishk was part of the same European network as Essid Sami Ben Khemais, a Tunisian who European officials believe was sent from Afghanistan to supervise Bin Laden’s terrorist operations in Europe. He was arrested in April.

Both Kishk and Ben Khemais traveled to France and Spain in March to contact militants, the statement said.

Interior Minister Claudio Scajola called Friday’s arrest “brilliant.”