An ISIS-supporting terror cell plotting to kidnap British diplomats in exchange for the release of their leader, fundamentalist preacher Najmuddin Ahmad Faraj (aka Mullah Krekar) – from a Norwegian jail were foiled before they put their plans in action.The men were arrested by the North East Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) after Italian officers pinpointed the European jihadist conspiracy.

“This is the most important international police operation in Europe in 20 years,” said Italian anti-terrorism chief Giuseppe Governale during a news conference in Rome.

The men were working to release the Norway-based Kurdish-Iraqi preacher, aged 59, is listed as a terrorist by both the U.S. and U.N. organization. Krekar had been sentenced to 18 months in prison last month for praising the slaying of cartoonists at French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. He was also guilty of urging others to kill a Kurdish immigrant in Norway.

The foreign diplomats were to be kidnapped in exchange for the release of Krekar, say officials.

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The four suspects are accused of international terrorism association, whereas arrest warrants have been issued for 17 people across Europe.

 

The four men – aged 38, 32, 33 and 52 years, will appear before Westminster Magistrates Court at an unspecified date.