Italy expels convicted Moroccan under terrorism watch following knife attack in France

Rome: a 35-year-old Moroccan man was deported for crimes against people and property. He was already being monitored by the country’s Counter-Terrorism Unit following a knife attack he carried out in France.

A 35-year-old Moroccan citizen, already known to the police for a knife attack in France, was expelled from Italy on 29 August, following his conviction of crimes against people and property.

Police in Lucca reported that the expulsion took place with direct accompaniment to Casablanca, where the man was handed over to Moroccan authorities.

The news was also confirmed by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi in a social media post.

The man was also considered dangerous internationally and had recently been arrested for serious offences committed in Italy. His offences in Lucca included a robbery knife attack in May where he seriously injured three persons, causing one of them a permanent facial deformation.

The incident led to his arrest and detention. The man was already known for a previous knife attack in France, for which he was placed under constant monitoring by investigators from the Digos anti-terrorism section.

His deportation with accompaniment to the border by specialised State Police personnel was carried out after a court on Thursday rejected his appeal and authorities refused to renew his residence permit.

It is not the first time that Italian authorities have expelled convicted persons from Morocco.

In June, the Brescia Court of Appeal approved the deportation of one Idriss Farhane to Morocco over several cybercrimes, and in 2020, a Moroccan imam was expelled because of his support for the Islamic State group.

Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese at the time cited reasons of state security in sending the 41-year-old imam, identified only as M.G., back to Casablanca.