Italy has intensified its security measures to the maximum in these final days of December, during the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, in an effort to prevent any terrorist attacks, as reported by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
The newspaper highlighted that the directives set by the Directorate of Public Security at the Ministry of Interior include “exceptional surveillance in shopping centers, places of worship, stations, airports, and squares where celebrations are held,” as stated in the document. This directive follows a recent meeting of the National Committee for Order and Public Security at the Ministry of Interior, chaired by the head of the agency, Matteo Piantedosi, and attended by senior law enforcement and intelligence officials.
A significant number of forces are involved in the operation, with a substantial increase in mobile patrols in areas expecting a higher flow of people, including the police and financial guard, along with bomb disposal experts.
Since mid-October, Italy has increased surveillance levels and counter-terrorism measures, identifying 28,000 sensitive targets, including 286 of utmost interest to security agencies.
Piantedosi, in his statements to the media, confirmed that there is no information about the immediate possibility of events related to international terrorist organizations and ruled out the presence of a “rooted organization in the country.” However, he noted that the situation requires maintaining “high” vigilance.
For this purpose, high surveillance of the most dangerous targets has been established, operating 24 hours a day, with a complex monitoring structure involving the army, alongside police forces, in implementing these extreme measures.
Across Europe, heightened security measures are being observed during the Christmas and New Year holiday season amid concerns over potential terrorist attacks. This increased vigilance follows warnings from the European Union’s home affairs commissioner about the heightened risk of such attacks.
In Germany, particularly at the Cologne Cathedral, security has been significantly tightened. Police have employed sniffer dogs to search the building and worshippers attending Christmas Eve Mass were subject to security screening. This action was a response to indications of a potential attack by Islamic extremists. Although the specific threat was reported to be for New Year’s Eve, authorities took precautionary measures for Christmas as well, given the large number of people visiting the cathedral during the holidays.
Similarly, in Austria, especially in Vienna, authorities have stepped up security around churches and Christmas markets. These measures include deploying both uniformed and plainclothes officers, and in some cases, may involve searches of individuals entering these areas. This increased security is in response to warnings about potential attacks on Christian events, especially on Christmas Eve.
Furthermore, France reported arrests linked to a suspected threat to a Christmas market in Strasbourg, a city that has previously experienced a terrorist attack. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has urged extreme vigilance over the Christmas period due to persistent international tensions, particularly those arising from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
