Italian police officers arrested a 38-year-old man who was reportedly planning a chemical attack in the Sardinian city of Macomer, the newspaper La Stampa reported, citing law enforcement sources. According to the media, he intended to poison the public drinking water system using rat poison, however, the Italian authorities have yet to confirm this information.
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La Stampa reported that Amin Alhaj Ahmad, who had a Palestinian passport and a proper work permit, came from Lebanon and worked as a street vendor. He never stated he was a follower of the jihadist movement. The plot was accidentally discovered by his neighbour, who informed the police, and, after a considerable period of investigation, the suspect was dramatically arrested just before he could carry out the poisoning.
AP, however, reported that the suspect was arrested after his cousin, detained in Lebanon, claimed during a confession that Ahmad planned to carry out a poisoning attack in Italy.
*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia.