All members were Kurds except for one Kosovar Albanian affiliate, and they were all arrested by an Italy-led, multi-nation sweep by police across Europe.

[4][5] The operation dismantled an integrated cell in Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland and Switzerland.

[4] A total of seventeen people, all but one of whom were Iraqi Kurds, were arrested or indicted in the raids; seven in Italy, four in the United Kingdom, three in Norway, two in Finland and one in Switzerland.

26 properties were searched in total, including in Germany, where officials seized electronic devices and documents.

[12] In March 2016 4 suspects previously arrested in the United Kingdom were released without charges, after winning a court case against their extradition to Italy.