Wednesday morning was hectic in Rome's Jewish quarter. The school in front of the Portico of Ottavia was evacuated. Everything suggested a bomb threat in response to the Israeli-Palestine conflict. However, it was a false alarm.
NATS
It was a drill.
That is what the Jewish Community of Rome, one of the oldest in Europe, reported.
Days earlier, the Italian government had announced that it would reinforce security in high profile places such as this neighborhood. But for the time being, no immediate threats have been detected in Rome. In Milan, the police did arrest two Egyptians with Italian passports who are linked to jihadist groups and, specifically, to ISIS. However, it does not seem that they were preparing an imminent attack.
Overall, there is a general sense of calm in Italy. At the Vatican, the Wednesday General Audience, for example, proceeded without any major incidents. This event draws thousands of people to listen the Pope in St. Peter's Square.
FRIAR CARLOS LÓPEZ
All over Europe security has been increased and here in the Vatican, the same thing has happened. But it is a natural thing.
TOMMASO
There is certainly much more security from a very, very positive point of view with the things that have just happened, like now in Brussels. I have to say that even at the level of efficiency, there were two different controls: first manually and then with metal detectors. It is essential to have this level of security because of the number of people here and the religious and cultural differences, and it is a high-risk area for obvious reasons, as the Pope is a very important figure.
Though the atmosphere is generally relaxed, some visitors have noticed a difference in the amount of security from their first visit years ago.
MATHEW DEL REY
I don't remember there being as much back then as there is now.
Residents of Italy have noted that there is a greater focus on security checks. But some also pointed out that it is nowhere near the amount of security checks as there were in 2015. At that time, the jihadist attacks in Paris raised the alert in Rome as fundamentalists had explicitly identified the Vatican as a target.
Regardless, the authorities are on alert. And they hope that the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel does not overflow into the streets of the Eternal City.
PA/JRB
TR: KG
