§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Italians living in Britain are wanted in Italy for terrorist offences; and whether extradition proceedings have been initiated in any cases.
§ Mr. BrittanThe available information relates to formal extradition requests and to requests for police assistance in tracing and arresting persons alleged to have been involved in terrorist offences. In recent years two persons accused of terrorist-related offences have been extradited to Italy. In 1981 the Italian authorities sought the extradition of seven Italian nationals accused of terrorist offences, but the cases were discharged by the Bow street magistrate because of insufficient evidence.
I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that all but one of the group remained in this country. The commissioner also tells me that the Italian authorities are seeking the arrest of three further Italian nationals in connection with terrorist crime but that it appears that their alleged offences are not extraditable. Extradition proceedings are also currently in progress in respect of one person accused of such an offence.