Italy police smash 'terror gang'

Rome, 13 Nov-(ANA)-The Italian authorities say 17 Algerians have been arrested in Italy and elsewhere on suspicion of stealing money to finance terrorism.

Six of the arrests were in Italy, while the other suspects were picked up in Algeria, Austria, France, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

The gang allegedly stole the identities of Algerian footballers playing in France in order to travel freely.

An estimated 1m euros (£902,000) of stolen money was sent to Algeria.

Italian police say the cash - exported in tranches of about 10,000 euros - is believed to have been for financing terrorism because some of the suspects were on international watch lists.

The suspects have been charged with criminal association, receiving stolen goods and falsifying documents. (ANA)

FA/ANA/13 November 2009----