Arjan Morina

Arjan Morina was born in Kosovo on November 4, 1999, making him the youngest member of the jihadist cell dismantled in Venice in 2017. He arrived in Italy while still a teenager, part of the Kosovar diaspora that migrated to northern Italy in search of work and stability. Unlike older members of the group who had settled into working lives, Morina was a young, impressionable newcomer, still trying to find his place in a foreign country, culturally and socially isolated.
He resided in the city of Mestre and maintained regular contact with the other cell members in Venice proper. Due to his age, he stood out as a particularly vulnerable target for indoctrination. His youth, disorientation, and need for belonging made him especially susceptible to influence from older, more radicalized individuals.
Despite his young age, Morina was quickly integrated into the group and became an eager participant in its ideological and operational discussions.
Arjan Morina’s radicalization was a textbook case of ideological grooming. Italian authorities characterized him as a “fanboy” of jihadist ideology – a term used to describe young extremists who are drawn to the symbolism, power, and identity offered by violent Islamist groups. Morina was heavily influenced by Dake Haziraj, whom he admired deeply, and Arjan Babaj, who acted as a spiritual authority.
He became radicalized primarily through online propaganda and in-person indoctrination. Morina consumed ISIS media with fascination, particularly videos of battlefield victories, suicide bombings, and executions. He also listened to audio lectures promoting jihad and martyrdom, which were shared within the cell’s encrypted chat groups.
One of his most striking comments, recorded during surveillance, was: “When I see an execution video, I can’t stop watching it… It gives me a rush.”
He saw terrorists like Khalid Masood (London attacker) and Anis Amri (Berlin attacker) as heroes, and expressed a desire to emulate their “sacrifices.” He praised jihadist attackers as “lions” and referred to the Islamic State as a “dream.”
His transformation from a confused teenager to a committed radical occurred within months. Surveillance reports noted a drastic shift in behavior: changes in dress, speech, social isolation from non-radicals, and an increasing obsession with religious purity and jihad.
Despite his age, Morina was heavily involved in the group’s daily activities. He:
• Regularly attended ideological meetings at Arjan Babaj’s home;
• Participated in group prayers, video sessions, and scriptural discussions;
• Shared and commented on ISIS propaganda videos;
• Practiced knife-handling techniques, both digitally and physically;
• Discussed with the group how to travel to Syria or carry out local attacks;
• Played the role of ideological echo, reinforcing others’ beliefs through blind enthusiasm.
According to police reports, Morina was especially active in the group’s Telegram channels and WhatsApp groups. He also volunteered to act as a “shahid” (martyr) and expressed pride at the possibility of dying while attacking Western civilians. He mentioned wanting to wear a suicide vest, should the opportunity arise.
The group often joked about disguising themselves in Carnival costumes to carry out attacks in Venice. Morina joined in these conversations, making tactical suggestions and praising ideas like attacking the Rialto Bridge or San Marco Basilica. Though he lacked the authority of Haziraj or Babaj, he had the zeal of a believer eager to prove himself.
Arjan Morina was the group’s youngest member and most fervent ideological recruit. His role was defined by:
• Absorption: He internalized and repeated the ideological framework given to him;
• Validation: He reinforced others’ radical ideas through enthusiastic praise;
• Volunteering: He offered himself for martyrdom and voiced readiness to act;
• Acceleration: His youthful energy gave the group a sense of urgency and generational continuity.
Although not involved in leadership or logistics, Morina was considered by authorities to be a potential direct attacker—someone who could easily be manipulated into carrying out a suicide bombing or stabbing, due to his total psychological investment.
In March 2017, Morina was arrested alongside Haziraj, Babaj, and Fisnik Bekaj. At the time of arrest, police recovered significant digital evidence from his mobile phone and computer, including:
• Dozens of ISIS execution videos;
• Training footage on how to kill with a knife;
• Photos of known terrorists, including portraits of Anis Amri;
• Personal notes praising jihad and martyrdom.
During the court proceedings, prosecutors emphasized that his age did not diminish the threat he posed. On the contrary, they cited his blind obedience, deep indoctrination, and lack of psychological maturity as risk multipliers. The court found that he was fully immersed in jihadist ideology and willing to act upon it.
He was convicted under Italian anti-terrorism law for participation in a terrorist association, possession of terrorist propaganda, and incitement to commit terrorist acts.
Because he was under 18 at the time the cell was being investigated but had reached majority by the time of his arrest, his sentence was moderated, but he was detained and placed under surveillance. In December 2019, he was deported.
His case has since been cited as a cautionary tale of how easily European-born or -raised teenagers can become radicalized, particularly when embedded in a peer-based or family-linked terror.