(JTA) – Police in Rome have arrested five neo-fascists on charges of plotting violence against the Rome Jewish community.
The accused also plotted to attack Rome’s Jewish community president, Riccardo Pacifici, as well as the city’s mayor, Gianni Alemanno; the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Gianfranco Fini; and the president of the Senate.
Police said 11 others were under investigation.
The charges include criminal association to spread racial hatred, incitement to violence, and discrimination for racial, ethnic and religious reasons.
Those arrested Wednesday included five members of the neo-fascist Militia group, including its longtime leader, Maurizio Boccaci, who is in his 50s. Police raids were carried out in several cities across the country.
According to Italian state television, the accused wanted to foment a “revolutionary war” against the official Italian institutions. Alemanno and Fini both are mainstream right-wing politicians who had their political roots in the neo-fascist movement but now demonstrate strong support for Israel.
Alemanno has been the target of neo-Nazi Militia banners and graffiti. Alemanno and Pacifici made a two-day visit to Israel this week to meet with freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
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