5 suspected right-wing terrorists arrested across Europe

ROME

Five people were arrested across Europe for alleged links to a right-wing organization utilizing an online platform for terrorist-related operations, Europol said on Friday, without providing the organization's name or country of origin.

“The suspects allegedly belong to a right-wing organization that uses an online platform for terrorist-related activities, including the dissemination of violent extremist propaganda, the active recruitment of new members and for sharing manuals of 3D printed weapons,” Europol said in a statement.

It added that some of the organization’s members are believed to have written their own manifesto and to have access to weapons.

Despite the young age of some of the suspects, Europol said evidence showed that there was an increased risk that some of them would take action soon.

Europol initiated investigations in July 2023 at the request of the Belgian authorities. It involved investigators from Italy, Croatia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Romania, besides those from Belgium.

An additional seven people were also questioned, Europol said, adding that authorities seized data carriers and weapons as part of the operation.