Algerian man convicted of int'l terrorism arrested in Italy

ROME, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- An Algerian national was arrested in southern Italy on Friday, after being sentenced to jail for being part of an international terrorism network, local media said.

Yacine Gasry was found at the train station in the city of Foggia in the Pulia region on Thursday night, and taken into custody by military Carabinieri police and Special Operation Group (ROS) unit, AGI news agency reported.

The man had been firstly arrested in 2004, and later sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in jail on charge of international terrorism, for being part of a network in Italy aimed at providing weapons and identity documents to Islamic radical militants.

At that time, Gasry was arrested along with another Algerian, and both men were suspected of providing support to Algeria-based Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) and Islamic Armed Group (GIA), state broadcaster RAI News 24 reported citing a police statement.

The cell was believed to be active in the provinces of Naples and Caserta in the south, and cities of Vicenza and Milan in northern Italy.

The probe coordinated by prosecutors in Naples uncovered the illegal activities of the cell, which include procurement of weapons and false ID documents, incitement to international terrorism, and supporting Islamic radical activities.

"Revenues from the illegal activities (of the group) were intended to finance the subversive structure, and support legal and illicit activities of the FIS and GIA in both Algeria and Europe," police said in the statement.

The network would have also worked to help Islamic militants enter the Italian territory illegally as migrants, according to police. Enditem