BREAKING NEWS

Italy heightens security after suspicious packages found, false alarms sound

By REUTERS

MARCH 25, 2016 08:47

Updated: MARCH 25, 2016 08:46

Italy has beefed up security at subway and railway stations, airports, monuments and tourist sites across the country following the terror attacks in Brussels on Tuesday that left 32 confirmed dead and 300 injured.

The Italian government responded to the terror attacks immediately. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said all necessary security measures would be taken despite Italy not being targeted specifically at the current stage. The Interior Ministry further demanded intelligence agencies and police forces to step up security controls at key areas around the clock. The Italian army also dispatched more troops to guard areas with streams of people.

In the past three days, false alarms for bombs sounded at railway stations, airports, and tourist sites in Italian cities.

At Rome Fiumicino Airport, which has upgraded its security level and grounded all flights to Brussels since Tuesday, items of luggage suspected to contain bombs were found on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, however, they all turned out to be regular luggage.

A similar situation occurred at the Pantheon in Rome on Wednesday when a suspicious red backpack was found by a fountain and police evacuated the area immediately. The backpack was confirmed safe, but the police and army still increased patrols of the area considering the large numbers of tourists.

Two packages tied up by ropes were found at the Doge's Palace in Venice early Thursday morning. The area was cordoned off for almost three hours before the packages were confirmed safe. The security level of the palace was later raised to the highest grade.

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