Afghan 'Islamists' held in Italy 'targeted London' Published duration 10 May 2016 Related Topics November 2015 Paris attacks

image copyright EPA image caption Hakim Nasiri poses with a gun: The undated photo was released by Italian police

Police in the port city of Bari in southern Italy have arrested two Afghan men suspected of plotting jihadist attacks in Italy, France and the UK.

Three other Afghans are still being sought, two of whom may have gone back to Afghanistan, Italian media report.

Video clips and photos on the two detainees' mobile phones suggest that they were targeting landmarks in Bari, Rome, Paris and London for attacks.

They included hotels in London's West India Quay and Royal Victoria Dock.

The detained suspects were named as Hakim Nasiri, 23, and Gulistan Ahmadzai, 29.

Several photos released by police show Mr Nasiri posing with a rifle in a shop or warehouse.

image copyright EPA image caption Another photo showing Hakim Nasiri posing with a gun

The apparent targets they picked in Rome were the Circus Maximus and Colosseum. Police believe the Afghans had formed a jihadist cell linked to so-called Islamic State (IS).

Suspicious surveillance

The Bari investigators said one of the suspicious images showed a famous mosque in Mecca tinted blue - a colour associated with Islamic paradise and devotion - and the Eiffel Tower tinted violet - a colour associated with death and struggle.

image copyright EPA image caption This combo image of a Mecca mosque and the Eiffel Tower is also being treated as suspicious

Another photo showed Hakim Nasiri next to the Mayor of Bari, Antonio Decaro, during a march organised on 10 September 2015 in solidarity with immigrants.

Both suspects held by police have been living in Italy with humanitarian protection status. Mr Nasiri is accused of international terrorism and Mr Ahmadzai of assisting illegal immigration.

In Bari they had filmed the Ipercoop shopping mall, the inside of Bari Palese airport and the port area.

The police swooped after one of them was spotted using his smartphone to photograph the Ipercoop mall.