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CP2031306737 — The mugshot of Hmidi Saber, who was jailed in Rome serving another sentence, some bullets and a black flag confiscated by police in his house, are shown during a press conference at the police headquarters in Rome, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Italian police issued a new arrest warrant to the Tunisian man who allegedly had links with Ansar Al Sharia and IS and was recruiting and radicalising Muslim inmates in prison. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP)

Italy moves to arrest inmate monitored for radicalization

January 10 2017 08:11 AM

ROME – Police in Rome say they have issued a new arrest warrant for an inmate who allegedly tried to radicalize fellow Muslims in Italian prisons.

Mauro Fabozzi, who heads Rome’s anti-terrorism police unit, alleged Tuesday that 34-year-old Saber Hmidi carried out “aggression” toward Catholic inmates and exulted after Islamist extremists attacks in Europe.

Hmidi, who is from Tunisia, was arrested in 2014 after pointing a gun at a police officer during a traffic stop in Italy. He is serving a sentence of 3 years and 8 months.

Authorities alleged in the new warrant Tuesday that he belongs to Ansar-al-Sharia terror group. Hmidi now risks being tried on terrorism charges.

Italy has launched a program to aggressively monitor Muslim prison inmates for signs of radicalization.

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