The U.S. passed along information to the Italian government of potential terror threats in Italy, primarily in Rome and Milan.
The State Department is warning that St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Milan’s cathedral, and La Scala opera house are the top “potential targets.”
It added that “general venues” like other churches, synagogues, restaurants, theaters, and hotels are also at risk.
The U.S. Embassy in Rome sent out a “security message” for U.S. citizens early Nov. 19, saying ““terrorist groups may possibly utilize similar methods used in the recent Paris attacks.”
“The Italian authorities are aware of these threats,” it added.
FBI Passes Info to Italy
The message came just hours after RAI state radio said that the FBI passed on information to Italian authorities about possible attacks.
But the station emphasized that “there are no direct signs of concrete threats” in connection with the information.”
Unnamed Italian government officials noted that they receive information from many sources, and while they’re taking precautions they’re not over-emphasizing the information.
“We always take such signals of alarm very seriously, especially when they come from the United States,” said Paolo Gentiloni, Italy’s foreign minister.
