Italy warned of al-Qaida hijack plot

Italy has been warned that al-Qaida terrorists using Italian passports may try to hijack a plane in Croatia and crash it into American interests in the region, a newspaper reported today.

Corriere della Sera said the warning was part of an intelligence document the United States has given to Italy.

Earlier this week, the US Department of Homeland Security said that five-man al-Qaida teams may be planning to hijack and crash more airliners in repeats of the September 11 attacks.

The warning suggested the attack could take place by the end of the summer in cities in the East Coast, Britain, Italy and Australia.

Corriere della Sera said the document was handed to Italy ”days ago.”

According to the newspaper, the document says that alleged cells operating in Italy might have a logistical role in planning the attack. It says investigators were looking into possible involvement in the plot of dozens of suspects arrested in Italy.

The suspects have been arrested as part of separate investigations and are alleged to have links with al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden’s terror network. Many were accused of having a logistical role, such as faking documents for al-Qaida recruits passing through Italy.