5 Suspected Terrorists Nabbed in Italy

April 5 -- As part of a coordinated crackdown against terrorism, police in Italy and Germany have arrested six suspected members of an Islamic guerrilla group with links to Saudi-born millionaire Osama bin Laden.

As part of a dawn raid operation carried out in coordination with police forces in Europe and the United States, Italian police today arrested five men believed to have directly links to Afghan training camps for Islamic fighters.

The five men were arrested today in Milan and in nearby Busto Arsizio and were being held in the San Vittore prison in Milan.

Meanwhile in Germany, police arrested a suspected Islamic guerrilla following raids coordinated with the Italian police.

Italian investigators believe they have uncovered a "highly dangerous" terrorist cell that was in direct contact with similar organizations in other European nations and with bin Laden.

A Coordinated Effort

Milan prosecutor Stefano Dambruoso today said the five were part of a cell with connections to terrorist organizations in France, Germany, Belgium and Britain.

The accusations against the five men arrested in Italy included trafficking in firearms and explosives as well as producing false documents.

Speaking to reporters in Rome today, Italian Interior Minister Enzo Bianco said the arrests "strike a strong blow" to the suspected Islamic terrorists.

Italian media had earlier reported that the five arrested men were believed to be part of a group that had planned an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Rome in January. But Italian prosecutors told ABCNEWS they had no proof that the men had any links with the thwarted attack.

Earlier, a U.S. embassy spokesman in Rome refused to comment on the arrests. "We cannot confirm the arrests in Milan had any connection to the closing of the U.S. Embassy in Rome in January," he said. "We of course cannot comment on an on-going investigation. The U.S. Embassy is in regular close contact with Italian authorities regarding its security."