The Italian newspaper The small He revealed on Friday (29) that a Turkish cell linked to the Islamic State Terrorist Group (EI) allegedly planned an attack on Pope Francis, which would take place during his visit to Trieste in northern Italy on July 7, 2024.
An investigation from the Treeste Public Prosecution Service, in collaboration with the Italian intelligence service and Interpol, led to the arrest in the Netherlands of a Turkish citizen, who was later extradited to Italy.
Investigations began after a suitcase containing an automatic pistol, a charger and 14 cartridges was found the day before the arrival of the Argentine pontiff.
The suitcase in question had been abandoned at the Treeste train station bar and investigations indicate that it would be taken by someone else.
As a result of the investigations, Hassan Uzun, a 46 -year -old Turkish citizen suspected of calls with IS, was arrested in the Netherlands and is currently being kept in solitary confinement in Corono’s prison in Trieste, the newspaper points out.
Lucrezia Chermaz, Uzun’s lawyer, says the accusations against him are a “conspiracy” for “carrying and having a common weapon,” and adds that “the investigation is underway.”
Internal TV images recorded Uzun leaving their bag at the bar and wandering around the station before buying a new Italian phone card with cash and destroying the old one.
Then he left Treeste by train to Milan and from there he went to Switzerland, where he was refused at the border because his documentation was invalid. A light -shirt man was recorded by security cameras accompanying Uzun on travel.
The newspaper also points out that a document considered confidential by the authorities confirmed the hypothesis of the possible attack on Pope Francis, planned by the Turkish terrorist cell affiliated with the IS.
The investigation remains in progress and seeks to identify possible accomplices and verify the existence of a terrorist network operating in European territory.
Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 in Rome, a victim of a stroke, according to official information provided by the Vatican. The pontiff recovered from a long hospitalization caused by serious respiratory problems.
