An Italian neo-Nazi cell has been accused of plotting to assassinate Giorgia Meloni as well as Klaus Schwab, the chairman of the World Economic Forum.

Twelve alleged members of the far-Right supremacist group, which calls itself the Werwolf Division, were arrested in country-wide raids by anti-terrorism police last week.

Police recorded suspects describing Ms Meloni, the prime minister who heads the Right-wing Brothers of Italy party, as a “fascist who persecutes fascists” and had been discussing plans to attack her since 2023, according to Italian media reports.

Italy’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor, Giovanni Melillo, said: “This is an important investigation, which is a development of another one currently under consideration by the Court of Naples.

“Both demonstrate the extreme danger of neo-Nazi networks branching out in Europe, which have long been underestimated.”

The preparation for “serious attacks” had reached advanced stages, according to the warrants. One of the suspects inside the “organised cell” had allegedly claimed to have “trained” five people as “potential warriors” to kill the prime minister.