Italy, Sweden take action against threat of militant attack

Countries on high state of alert as they guard major attractions and parliament buildings

Italian Carabinieri police stand guard at a checkpoint in Conciliazione Street, next to St. Peter’s Square, in Rome, Italy: the country has upped its security measures.  Photograph: Alessandro Di Meo/EPA
Italian Carabinieri police stand guard at a checkpoint in Conciliazione Street, next to St. Peter’s Square, in Rome, Italy: the country has upped its security measures. Photograph: Alessandro Di Meo/EPA

Police in Italy and Sweden tried to track down suspected militants and increased security on Thursday after receiving reports that attacks might be planned on their soil.

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.

In Stockholm, police stepped up their presence around the parliament and main railway stations.

Both countries were on a high state of alert to guard against any possible attack. Rome’s underground train operator temporarily closed lines on three occasions during the day due to suspicious packages, which all proved to be false alarms.

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Milan’s top city authorities said there was “no specific evidence of an imminent danger,” but security measures remained at their “maximum level”.

– (Reuters)