Netherlands: Muslim man detained over July 2024 plot to assassinate Pope Francis

Image: Jihad Watch

A 45-year-old Turkish national has been arrested in the Netherlands for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate Pope Francis during his visit to Trieste, Italy, more than a year ago. Authorities disclosed the case to Italian newspaper Il Piccolo and the press agency ANSA, confirming that the suspect, identified as Hasan Uzun, was taken into custody at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on April 23. According to the Amsterdam District Office of the Public Prosecution Service (OM), Uzun is believed to be connected to a Turkish cell of ISIS-Khorasan, the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State known for orchestrating attacks across Europe and Asia.

The arrest was carried out on the basis of a European Arrest Warrant issued by Italian prosecutors. Court documents from the Amsterdam District Court reveal that Uzun faced charges of “illegal trade in weapons, ammunition, and explosives,” offenses that, under Italian law, carry a maximum sentence of at least three years. After his extradition hearing, the court approved his transfer, and he was handed over to Italian authorities on June 27.

Investigators say the alleged assassination attempt was planned for July 7, 2024, coinciding with Pope Francis’ highly anticipated visit to Trieste. The Pontiff was scheduled to celebrate Mass at the historic Piazza Unità d’Italia, where thousands of Catholics had gathered to commemorate the church’s mission and community projects. Security was heightened, but the discovery of a weapon just a day before the event raised alarm.

Il Piccolo reported that Uzun was linked to a firearm hidden inside a suitcase at a bar near a train station. The gun, loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, was found after a man behaving suspiciously abandoned the suitcase on July 6 at around 3:48 p.m. Surveillance footage captured the individual—wearing a black t-shirt featuring a tiger emblem—leaving the bag behind before walking down Via Flavio Gioia as if searching for someone. Authorities strongly suspect this individual was Uzun.

Italian prosecutor Cristina Bacer confirmed that the suspicious behavior and the discovery of the weapon led investigators to piece together the wider conspiracy. Security officials concluded that Uzun, believed to be affiliated with a Turkish network tied to ISIS-Khorasan, was part of a broader extremist plot. The militant group, notorious for targeting religious and political leaders, is thought to have orchestrated the attempt to kill the Pope.

The arrest and subsequent extradition underscore both the ongoing threat posed by ISIS-linked groups in Europe and the crucial role of international cooperation in counterterrorism efforts.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)