Said Boukedenna
Said Boukedenna was born in Algeria on August 16, 1963. He was charged under Article 270 bis of the Italian Penal Code for his involvement in establishing a logistical support network for the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which was functionally connected to the international terrorist organization al-Qaeda. The primary aim of this network was to carry out acts of violence against the Algerian state and engage in international terrorism.
Said was implicated in a broader association aimed at international terrorism that operated predominantly from October 2001 to June 2005, primarily in Naples, Aversa, Milan, and Vicenza. This Italian cell was organized within the framework of the Algerian fundamentalist Islamic movement and can be traced back to the disintegration of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS). Its objectives included recruitment, procuring false documents, and gathering financial resources. Investigations revealed a vast network, primarily operational in Algeria, where the organization conducted violent and bloody opposition against state institutions, resorting to terrorism as a means to instill fear within the populace.
The organization to which Said was connected has a complex structure that is partially reflected in various factions such as FIS, GIA, and GSPC, with operational extensions in countries beyond Algeria. Prosecutor investigations have confirmed the existence of several cells established in countries including Italy, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. These cells were tasked with consolidating support among Algerian expatriates, securing funding, recruiting personnel to be sent to Algeria, and establishing safe houses for individuals involved in combat or facing judicial measures in their home countries. Rather than functioning as independent entities, these cells were components of a unified structure, creating a transnational organization with a cohesive agenda. While each group had distinct objectives, they were united in their overarching goal of conducting a holy war against apostates and non-believers.
The GIA-GSPC cell likely formed in Naples, where it established its operational center. From this hub, funds collected across various Italian cities were transferred to Algeria to support jihadist fighters through an organized transport route from Naples to Marseille. The cell also sourced essential base documents in Naples, which were used by forgers to create false identity papers for both domestic and international distribution. Additionally, the group procured propaganda materials aimed at inciting and preparing for Islamic jihad among Muslims residing in Italy.
Intercepted communications revealed discussions about a “national reconciliation” project, which appeared to offer a form of amnesty for militants labeled as illegal by Algerian authorities. Within the organization, some factions expressed a willingness to negotiate with authorities, while a more hardline faction based in Milan consistently rejected any compromise, advocating for a violent affirmation of radical Islamic principles.
In 2011, the prosecutor requested a six-year prison sentence for Said, based on the gravity of the charges against him. Ultimately, he was acquitted by the Court of Assizes in Naples regarding the charges under Article 270 bis, as the court determined that he had not committed the alleged acts.
