The United States is now expected to seek the extradition of Xu Zewei, 33, who was picked up at a Milan airport on July 3, the report said.

ANSA quoted a US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report as saying the Chinese national was suspected of being part of a group of hackers that took information on Covid-19 vaccines made by the University of Texas.

Xu lived in Shanghai and worked for a computer company, the report said. US authorities issued an international appeal for his arrest in November 2023.

AFP contacted the police but received no response.