[Mb-civic] Italy Stages 'Maxi-Blitz' Raids After London Attacks - Washington Post

[William Swiggard]

Italy Stages 'Maxi-Blitz' Raids After London Attacks

By Daniel Williams
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, July 14, 2005; Page A17

ROME, July 13 -- Italian authorities reacted Wednesday to last week's 
bombings in London, tentatively blamed on four British citizens, by 
searching the homes of hundreds of suspected Islamic radicals and 
illegal immigrants.

Police and anti-terror units fanned out in Naples, Milan and other major 
cities, and searched homes and offices. Interior Minister Giuseppe 
Pisanu told reporters that the "maxi-blitz" showed that the government 
of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been alert to the possibility of 
attacks in Italy.

<>"The operation has been prepared for some time and confirms that Italy 
has never lowered its guard in the face of the terrorist tide," he said. 
"I'm not saying that we have seized terrorists. It's a preventive 
operation in high-risk environments." The police were looking for arms 
and explosives, officials said. No arrests were announced.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/13/AR2005071302139.html?nav=hcmodule 

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