Rioters Discussed Beating Cops, Torching Government Buildings In Secret Chats Featuring Islamic Academic

Italian police uncovered violent plots to attack officers, loot, and set government buildings ablaze amid an investigation into riots that rocked Milan.

Investigators discovered a WhatsApp group with more than 230 members discussing attacks on law enforcement, arson and robberies, prompting approximately 150 searches across Italy, Euronews reported Tuesday. Authorities seized knives, brass knuckles, an axe bearing an anti-police inscription and other weapons as a separate investigation into a researcher accused of inciting violence with terrorist intent continues.

The Italian police did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

Upon the arrest of Youseff Siher — a Moroccan academic with a background in Islamic studies — police searched his phone, uncovering a WhatsApp group of nearly 230 people, according to Euro News. In this group was a message that urged members to not put their ski masks on right away, as to evade police. Investigators obtained a warrant to search the house of the teenager behind the message, where they found a balaclava and an Under Armour shirt believed to be stolen.

Conversations within this group incited violence, with members planning to “steal their [police officers] weapons,” EuroNews reported.

“Let’s grab one, beat him up and take his weapon,” one member urged, according to the outlet.

Hey guys, if we’re going to protest, let’s set fire to a government building,”, another member suggested, per EuroNews. Others encouraged members to steal cars and rob businesses, including a Gucci store.

Using information from the group chat, police executed over 150 searches spanning multiple Italian provinces, according to EuroNews. Law enforcement discovered multiple knives, a hatchet with “1312” engraved — the numerical rendering of “ACAB,” an acronym meaning “all cops are bastards” — knuckledusters, a baton and firearms. Siher continues to exercise his right to remain silent.

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