United States warns Italy of militant attack threat – Italian minister

Italian media have, in recent months, regularly given high prominence to vague warnings from Islamic State propogandists that they will come to Rome and plant their flag on top of St Peter’s.

Italy’s foreign minister said possible attacks could be aimed at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome or the cathedral or La Scala theatre in Milan. AP also quoted RAI state radio as saying early on Thursday that “there are no direct signs of concrete threats” in connection with the information.

Gentiloni said the USA embassy in Rome had recommended tourists take particular care in certain parts of Italy but had not advised them against going there.

Police in Italy and Sweden tried to track down suspected militants and increased security around public buildings on Thursday after receiving reports that attacks might be planned on their soil following last week’s mass killings in Paris.

But Italian security services are on the hunt for five terror suspects thought to be in the country.

Gentiloni added that the U.S. alert did not warn people to stay away from Italy. “This represents the most serious terrorist threat faced in Europe for ten years”. “Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreigners”, a Foreign Office spokesman told the Daily Star.

The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning to American citizens in Italy, according to The Washington Post.

The Islamic State group’s propaganda outlets have threatened the home of the Catholic Church, though Italian officials say they have never received evidence of a credible, specific plot to bomb the Italian capital or the Holy See.

Interior minister Angelino Alfano has deployed 700 extra troops in Rome and security at Italy’s borders and airports has been stepped up.