Al Qaeda Connection Confirmed; 40 More Arrested

Via Stop the ACLU, 40 individuals have been arrested in various cities throughout Italy in a crackdown stemming from yesterday's terror arrests in London.

Separately, Pakistani intelligence officials confirmed wide suspicions that the group nabbed in the UK were connected to Al Qaeda, and specifically, to Afghanistan.

The arrests in Italy were made Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples and other cities on Thursday and Friday "as part of an extraordinary operation that followed the British anti-terrorist operation," the ministry said in a statement.

Twenty-eight people were arrested for violating rules on residence permits and 12 were arrested for property crimes, the statement said. The raids were made on "Islamic gathering places, including call centers, Internet points and money transfer" offices, the ministry said

In a statement, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the arrests underscored "the very important role that has been played by Pakistan in breaking this international terrorist network." It said there were "indications of Afghanistan-based Al Qaeda connection" in the case, but did not elaborate.

By my count, that's 19 arrested in London yesterday, 5 Pakistani facilitators, 2 Brits arrested in Pakistan last week, and 40 yanked from various cities in Italy on Friday, for a total of 66 in custody.

It's unclear (to me anyway) if all (or any) of today's Italian round-up were conspirators in this particular plot, or simply compatriots on whose trail authorities were put, thanks to evidence collected in the course of the other raids.

Today's raids were said to be carried out at "Islamic gathering places", including money transfer stations, internet access points, and call centers.