Italian authorities have arrested a 21-year-old man of Moroccan origin on terrorism charges after investigators concluded he had been radicalized online and was potentially preparing a violent attack.
21-year-old Zakaria Ben Haddi, born in Italy to Moroccan parents, was detained on the orders of the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office following an investigation into his social media activity. According to prosecutors, Ben Haddi demonstrated a “readiness for martyrdom” and used his Instagram and TikTok accounts to promote extremist content linked to the Islamic State.
Investigators allege that he “revealed his membership in the international terrorist organization the Islamic State” and regularly shared propaganda videos attributed to the jihadist movement, including material related to ISIS and its first caliph, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.
Authorities say Ben Haddi consistently published content glorifying terrorist attacks carried out by ISIS against Christians and the West. Prosecutors reportedly concluded that he was “on the verge” of carrying out a violent attack.
Particular concern centered on his online references to the recent car-ramming attack in Modena, in which Salim El Koudri deliberately drove into pedestrians, injuring seven people. Investigators described Ben Haddi as being “ready to strike like in Modena,” citing his repeated glorification of the incident on social media.
Authorities became especially alarmed by social media posts published on May 30. In one message, Ben Haddi wrote, “Tomorrow I will make Italy better.” In a follow-up post, he added, “Don’t blame me for what I’ll do tomorrow because I’m doing the right thing.” Investigators said the messages significantly increased concerns that an attack might be imminent, prompting authorities to intervene.
“This [Monday] morning’s arrest of a man residing in Brianza and charged with international terrorism once again demonstrates the effectiveness of the measures our country has implemented to combat the dangerous phenomenon of Islamist radicalization,” Italian interior minister Matteo Piantedosi said.
Galeazzo Bignami, leader of the Brothers of Italy in the Chamber of Deputies, said: “These incidents confirm the need for controlled immigration and the failure of the left’s pro-immigration policies, which, through indiscriminate reception, have opened our nation’s borders to potential terrorists.”
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini appeared to mock claims of successful integration, writing on X: “A young ‘Italian doc’ arrested for Islamic terrorism.”
Judge Rossana Mongiardo is expected to issue a decision regarding Ben Haddi’s detention measures on Wednesday.
