Abderrahamane Gadinarau

Abderrahamane Gadinarau was born in Algeria on November 19, 1971. He was charged under Article 270 bis of the Italian Penal Code for his involvement in forming a logistical support network for the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which was functionally connected to the international terrorist organization al-Qaeda. This network aimed to carry out acts of violence against the Algerian state and engage in international terrorism.
Gadinarau organized and directed the association, indoctrinating its members ideologically and providing directives necessary to achieve their goals. While he took on a leadership role, other members executed the orders given by him and other leaders, which included procuring false documents, recruiting new members, gathering necessary funds for the organization’s objectives, and conducting proselytism. This also encompassed financial support and legal assistance to immigrants, the procurement of arms through transnational criminal networks, and the establishment of means to execute their terrorist agenda. He was previously convicted and sentenced to three years and six months in prison in connection with the “Moschea trial”.
The organization he was involved with operated primarily between October 2001 and June 2005, primarily in Naples, Aversa, Milan, and Vicenza. This Italian cell aimed at international terrorism and was linked to the Algerian fundamentalist Islamic movement, arising from the disintegration of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS). Investigations, particularly through extensive phone and environmental surveillance, revealed a broad and well-rooted operation largely based in Algeria, which has been conducting a violent opposition against state institutions, engaging in acts of terrorism designed to instill fear among the populace.
The GSPC’s structure is complex and partially reflected in various factions, such as FIS, GIA, and GSPC, with operational branches extending beyond Algeria. Prosecutor investigations have identified several cells established in countries including Italy, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, tasked with various roles. These included consolidating support among Algerian expatriates for the organization’s objectives, securing funding, recruiting personnel to be sent to Algeria, and establishing safe houses for individuals involved in fighting or facing legal action in their home countries. These cells did not function as independent organizations but rather as components of a unified structure, creating a transnational organization with a cohesive agenda. While the objectives of each group might vary, they were all united in their goal of waging a holy war against apostates and non-believers.
The cell linked to the GIA-GSPC likely originated in Naples, where it maintained its operational center. From this hub, funds collected from various cities in Italy were transferred to Algeria to support jihadist fighters through an organized transport route between Naples and Marseille. The cell also procured essential base documents in Naples, which forgers used to create false identity papers for both domestic and international use. Additionally, the group obtained propaganda materials to incite and prepare for Islamic jihad among Muslims living in Italy.
Intercepted communications revealed discussions regarding a “national reconciliation” project, which suggested a form of amnesty for militants considered illegal by Algerian authorities. Some factions within the organization expressed a willingness to negotiate with authorities, while a more hardline faction, particularly in Milan, consistently rejected any compromise, advocating instead for a violent assertion of radical Islamic principles.
In 2011, the prosecutor requested an eight-year prison sentence, citing the continuity of the crimes committed and recognizing the aggravating factors associated with the promotion and organization of the association. Ultimately, Gadinarau was acquitted by the Court of Assizes in Naples regarding the charge under Article 270 bis, as the court found that he had not committed the alleged acts.