Paris "apparent target" for militants

A group of suspected Islamic militants arrested in Italy and Belgium appeared to have been planning a suicide attack in Paris, said an Italian detention warrant seen by Reuters yesterday. The 27-page warrant includes transcribed telephone conversations...

A group of suspected Islamic militants arrested in Italy and Belgium appeared to have been planning a suicide attack in Paris, said an Italian detention warrant seen by Reuters yesterday.

The 27-page warrant includes transcribed telephone conversations in which the suspects discussed the Paris metro, security arrangements and a "martyr" referred to as Mohammed.

On Monday, Italian police arrested Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, known as "Mohamed the Egyptian" and suspected of playing a lead role in the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people i March. A second man was arrested as part of the raid.

Belgian police, acting on information from Italy, the arrested 15 people they said were preparing for an attack.

The warrant, used to detain Ahmed and the other suspect i Milan, quotes members of the group as saying they planned rehearsal of an attack in Paris using mobile phone technology.

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