Italy arrests Egyptian man accused of supporting IS

Italian authorities are seeking the whereabouts of an Egyptian national accused of supporting IS after expelling and arresting two others on Wednesday.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

22 November, 2018

Italian police said the man had shared IS propaganda [NurPhoto]

An Egyptian man accused of planning to travel to fight for the Islamic State group was arrested in Italy on Wednesday, Italian authorities have said.

Issam Elsayed Elsayed Abouelayem Shalabi, 22, reportedly used social media chats to spread jihadist propaganda and led a small group of IS sympathisers.

Police said another Egyptian national was ordered expelled from Italy on Wednesday, the latest in the more than 300 suspected jihadi sympathisers kicked out as national security threats since 2015. A third Egyptian was being sought.

Shalabi was accused of association with the aim of international terrorism and instigation of terrorist acts.

Police said Shalabi, a one-time McDonald's cleaner, used the Telegram app to share IS videos and a claim of responsibility for a July IS attack in Tajikistan that killed four western cyclists.

The group of seven tourists were attacked while cycling along a popular route in Tajikstan's south.

Four of the cyclists were killed and two injured. IS group militants later claimed responsibility for the incident, which was initially reported as a hit-and-run.