A Somali Imam arrested in Cambobasso by Italian police wanted to attack Rome’s central Termini station, Italian media report.

The 22-year-old, who had submitted an application for asylum, was arrested days before he planned to leave the southern Italian city on his way to Rome to carry out the attack.

The imam was residing in the migrant centre known as Happy Family, a tourist complex which was converted into a residential area for migrants.

“The war continues,” the imam was reported to have told his followers. “Charlie Hebdo was only the start.”

Other migrants told police that the imam regularly praised what Islamic State rebels were doing, and some of them said that they refused to attend more prayer meetings because of his preaching, Italian media report.