The State Police of Viterbo in the morning of 12 last March, directed by the local Public Prosecutor's Office, arrested a man of 24 years, an Italian citizen of Latvian origin, for possession of material useful for the packaging of explosive devices in the capital of Tuscia .
The investigative activity, coordinated by the Service for the Contrast of Extremism and External Terrorism of the DCPP / UCIGOS, represented the result of a tested system of prevention of the terrorist threat that has availed itself of international collaboration channels and of the close operational relationship between the central and territorial apparatuses of the State Police.
The investigation arose from a report by the US FBI (Federal Bureau Investigation) relating to some expressions of appreciation on social media, posted by Italy against Sayfullo Saipov, the Islamic extremist who on 31 October 2017 in New York with a truck hit 8 people on a bike path, causing their death.
The investigations carried out by the Service for the Contrast of Extremism and External Terrorism of the DCPP / UCIGOS have allowed to immediately identify the author of the posts in the young man arrested, never highlighted before under the political / religious profile, which was immediately subjected to investigations information and very close monitoring by the Digos of Viterbo.
As a result of the search, which was attended by anti-sabotage canine units and specialists from the Telecommunications Police, various precursors for the manufacture of artisanal devices were seized as well as a cylindrical cardboard artifact, filled with dust of an as yet undetermined nature, to which they had been glued numerous small coins. A rifle and 2 compressed air pistols, a so-called "brass knuckles" as well as some computer equipment were also found in the house.
As a demonstration of the goodness of the accusatory system, yesterday the GIP validated the arrest of the 24-year-old young man by placing his custody in prison for the crime referred to in art. 435 of the Italian Criminal Code, a spy offense, on which investigations are underway for any other offenses.
The press conference to illustrate the details of the operation is scheduled for today, at 11,00, at the Conference Room of the Police Headquarters.