Four men have been arrested in Italy and Kosovo after allegedly propogating Jihadist ideology and threatening Pope Francis.
Three of the four jihadist suspects were arrested in Italy, the other in Kosovo, on suspicion of "condoning terrorism" and "inciting racial hatred", according to Italian police.
"They were threatening the Pope, celebrating the recent attacks in Paris and threatening the former US amabassador to Kosovo," told Carmine Esposito, a police chief in the northern Italian city of Brescia, where the investigation was based.
The arrests came after raids in the Italian cities of Brescia, Vicenza and Perugia as well as in Kosovo.
Police said "the [alleged] terrorist team propagated the ideology of jihad through social networks" and, although they had not been involved in a specific attack, were "highly dangerous".
The group have made threats against Pope Francis online.
One post read: "Remember there won't be any pope after this one. This is the last. Don't forget what I am telling you", according to chief prosecutor Tommaso Buonanno.
Security surrounding the Vatican is already at a high in reaction to the terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and a video ISIS released on 16 November claiming that Pope Francis and Rome were among their targets.
"By Allah, if we brought down France in its homeland, in Paris, then we swear, by the command of Allah, we will attack America in its heartland, in Washington, Allah permitting, and we will invade Rome, Allah permitting", the video said.
Kosovo has experienced a growing number of people travelling to Syria and propogating jihadist ideology.
"We estimate some 300 people from Kosovo have travelled [to Syria]", Luan Keka from the Kosovo Police Anti-Terrorism Department said.
"Among them, there are women and children. The rest are considered fighters. Right now, we believe the number present there is 80."
