'Vast' Italian police operation targets Pakistan attack suspects

Italian police said on Friday they were carrying out a "vast anti-terrorism" operation and were issuing 18 arrest warrants, including some for militants suspected of complicity in attacks in Pakistan.

A statement said the operation, in which some people had already been arrested, was centred on the Italian island of Sardinia and involved a total of seven Italian provinces.

It said the organisation targeted in the operation was "inspired by al Qaeda" and aimed to support a popular uprising against the Pakistani government.

The statement gave no details on the nationalities of those  being issued with arrest warrants.

Some under investigation were believed to be responsible for attacks in Pakistan, including one on a market in the northwestern frontier city of Peshawar in 2009, it said.

Police said a news conference would be held later on Friday in the Sardinian city of Cagliari. 

 

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