Italian raids target neo-Nazi suspects

The accused are suspected Blood and Honour members

Twelve suspected neo-Nazis have been arrested in a series of dawn raids by Italian police.

They are accused of belonging to the international fascist group Blood and Honour, which is banned in Italy.

Flags, banners and leaflets were recovered in the raids, near Merano in the far north of Italy.

Police say the Austrian authorities had co-operated in the raid. Austrian police launched a synchronised operation to arrest a German suspect near the Austrian city of Innsbruck.

Racism charges

Northern Italy is known to harbour a number of the country's far-right sympathisers, some of them based in German-speaking areas like Merano.

The town is part of the Alto Adige (South Tyrol) region, which used to belong to Austria.

Italian prosecutors in Bolzano, near Merano, said those held were accused of racial, ethnic and religious discrimination.

Cross-border work

Their identities have not been revealed, but Bolzano police spokesman Giancarlo Massarotti said those held were aged between 19 and 28. Three minors were also being investigated.

He said the police operation had followed months of co-operation between Italian and Austrian law enforcers.

The raids come two weeks after police in Bolzano arrested 11 people - also allegedly right-wing sympathisers - after a Moroccan immigrant was stabbed near the city.