Turkish man arrested in the Netherlands over plot to assassinate Pope Francis in Italy
A 45-year-old man from Turkey was arrested in the Netherlands for allegedly being part of a plan to kill Pope Francis over a year ago in Trieste, Italy, authorities in that country told newspaper Il Piccolo and press agency ANSA. The suspect was arrested on April 23 at Schiphol Airport, according to the Amsterdam district office of the Public Prosecution Service (OM). He is alleged to be linked to a Turkish branch of Islamic State known as ISIS Khorasan.
The suspect, who has been identified as Hasan Uzun, was taken into custody on the basis of a European Arrest Warrant issued by authorities in Italy. Amsterdam District Court records show the arrest warrant accused Uzun of "illegal trade in weapons, ammunition and explosives." The court ruling on his extradition in June stated that "these facts are punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least three years under Italian law.” He was transferred to Italy on June 27.
The attack was allegedly planned for July 7, 2024, during the pope’s visit to Trieste, with Catholics gathering to celebrate the church’s mission and projects in the city. The pope led a large Mass on the Piazza Unità d’Italia in the Italian port city near the country's border with Slovenia.
Italian newspaper Il Piccolo reports that the suspect is linked to a gun left in a suitcase at a train station bar. The gun, which was loaded with 14 bullets, was discovered a day before the pope’s visit. Prosecutor Cristina Bacer told the news outlet that the case started when a man was seen acting suspiciously when he left the suitcase behind at about 3:48 p.m.
Surveillance footage showed the suitcase being left behind by a man in a black t-shirt with a tiger on it. Authorities suspect this was Uzun, who then walked along the Via Flavio Gioia where he seemed to be searching for someone.
Around that time, two others individuals were seen handling the suitcase by a bar employee, who then called rail police. Officers responding found a gun in the suitcase, though it is unclear who placed the weapon there. Video images recovered from the day showed Uzun making his way back to the bar, until he saw police at the scene, at which point he headed back to the exit.
Bacer alleged Uzun then destroyed the SIM card in his mobile phone, and bought a new SIM card from a nearby telecom shop where he was joined by another individual. Uzun caught a 5:05 p.m. train, and wound up in security camera footage recorded at a Milan train station, where the other individual was still with him. Italian authorities claim Uzun attempted to enter Switzerland at the Chiasso border point, but was denied entry because of an issue with the two passports he was carrying at the time.
Investigators in Italy say Uzun is a member of a Turkish organization linked to ISIS Khorasan. The Afghan branch of the Islamic State terrorist group is believed to be behind the attack plot targetting the Pontiff.
Uzun's arrest at Schiphol Airport came months later on the weapons charge. His attorney challenged his extradition before the District Court of Amsterdam. They stated humanitarian reasons, due to claims of overcrowding in Italian prison facilities. That was rejected by the District Court of Amsterdam on June 19, citing a similar decision by the court just a few weeks earlier.
After his extradition at the end of June, Uzun spent several days in a prison cell in Milan. He is since been held in solitary confinement in Trieste, Italian media reported.
