Iran Press/Europe: Elite police forces searched properties across northern Italy following an investigation into Italians who had fought alongside separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, a police statement said on Monday.
Three men were arrested, including a customs officer who has previously stood for parliament for an extreme right party, The Telegraph reported.
During their raids, police discovered a French-made Matra air-to-air missile that appeared to have once belonged to the Qatar armed forces.
Subsequent checks showed the weapon was in working condition but lacked an explosive charge.
A big cache of guns and ammunition was seized by the Turin special police force, photo by AFP
Among other weapons uncovered were 26 guns, 20 bayonets, 306 gun parts, including silencers and rifle scopes, and more than 800 bullets of various calibers.
The arms were primarily from Austria, Germany and the United States. Police also seized Nazi memorabilia from the properties.
Europe saw a resurgence of far-right (nationalist) groups after the 2008 financial crisis, and in recent years, their popularity has increased significantly given the hardline stance they have adopted on immigrants entering Europe and terrorist attacks within Europe.
Recently, the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned about the danger of EU unraveling if extreme far-right groups do well in European Parliamentary elections.
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