The US said yesterday it had received information about possible terrorist attacks against "symbols of American capitalism" in Italy and warned its citizens there to take extra precautions.
In a statement released in Washington and by the US embassy in Rome, the State Department said the attacks could occur within the next 30 days, but did not elaborate.
"The Department has received information that 'symbols of American capitalism' in Italy may be targeted for attack in the next month," it said. A State Department spokesman, Mr Richard Boucher, declined to define exactly what "symbols of American capitalism" and would not say if the description intended to imply that the possible attackers were left-wing radicals.
"That phrase ... reflects the nature of the information that we have, that so-called 'symbols of American capitalism' in Italy may be targeted for attack in the next month," he said.
A senior State Department official said the term could refer to US diplomatic missions in Italy - the embassies in Rome and the Vatican and the consulates in Florence, Milan and Naples - or well-known US multinational corporations including restaurants and cafes.
But the official refused to provide more details and advised Americans to take the additional measures contained in the written warning to protect their safety while in Italy.
"US citizens are urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to increase their security awareness. American citizens are also urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects and to report the presence of the objects to local authorities," the statement said.
The department did not specifically link the threat to the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, but pointed to a "worldwide caution" to US nationals overseas issued on Friday.