John
12-21-2010, 05:05 PM
An explosive device has been found on an underground train in Rome and experts are investigating whether it was an attempted Christmas season terror attack.
It is thought the parcel bomb was found inside an empty carriage during a stop in Rebibbia, on the outskirts of the city.
The area has been cleared and bomb disposal experts are apparently defusing the device.
Reports have said it was left in a grocery bag underneath a seat, and was spotted by the conductor after passengers got off at the train's last stop this morning.
Officials said the bomb was composed of gunpowder and metal tubes and was hidden inside a shoe box.
Police have said it could not have blown up because it did not contain a detonator but Rome's Mayor Gianni Alemanno said the discovery was "worrying".
Spokesman for the city council Giampaolo Polizzaro contradicted what the police said and told a news agency: "It was ready to explode.
"It seems it could have been activated by remote control because it had something that looked like an antenna."
There have been growing concerns in Europe about holiday season attacks following a suicide bombing in Sweden and official fears of an assault on a European city modelled on the deadly shooting spree in Mumbai, India.
On Monday, 12 men were arrested as part of terror raids in London, Stoke, Birmingham and Cardiff.
Rebibbia station was not evacuated and the metro system continued to function normally while investigations were carried out.
Security measures have been stepped up in Rome following violent anti-government protests last week and ahead of expected rallies on Wednesday.
Source - Yahoo News.
It is thought the parcel bomb was found inside an empty carriage during a stop in Rebibbia, on the outskirts of the city.
The area has been cleared and bomb disposal experts are apparently defusing the device.
Reports have said it was left in a grocery bag underneath a seat, and was spotted by the conductor after passengers got off at the train's last stop this morning.
Officials said the bomb was composed of gunpowder and metal tubes and was hidden inside a shoe box.
Police have said it could not have blown up because it did not contain a detonator but Rome's Mayor Gianni Alemanno said the discovery was "worrying".
Spokesman for the city council Giampaolo Polizzaro contradicted what the police said and told a news agency: "It was ready to explode.
"It seems it could have been activated by remote control because it had something that looked like an antenna."
There have been growing concerns in Europe about holiday season attacks following a suicide bombing in Sweden and official fears of an assault on a European city modelled on the deadly shooting spree in Mumbai, India.
On Monday, 12 men were arrested as part of terror raids in London, Stoke, Birmingham and Cardiff.
Rebibbia station was not evacuated and the metro system continued to function normally while investigations were carried out.
Security measures have been stepped up in Rome following violent anti-government protests last week and ahead of expected rallies on Wednesday.
Source - Yahoo News.