Terror suspects ‘planned Vatican attack’

People being investigated in a counter-terrorism investigation in Italy may have been planning an attack against the Vatican, one of the prosecutors leading the probe said.

Cagliari Chief Prosecutor Mauro Mura told reporters that as well as planning to launch attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as earlier reported, the suspects may also have been aiming to target the Vatican and a suicide bomber had arrived in Rome but later left for unknown reasons.

Police conducted raids across Italy yesterday, targeting 18 people suspected of links with al-Qaeda. Some were arrested, including the group’s suspected spiritual leader, but others were believed to have left the country.