Two Armed Men Arrested in Italy Before Local Festival

Rome, Sep 4 (AP) – Two armed Turkish men were apprehended in Viterbo, a city in central Italy near Rome, just hours before a well-attended local festival. Italy's Premier, Giorgia Meloni, announced the arrests on Thursday.

Meloni commended the police and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi for their “swift intervention," which led to Wednesday night's arrest, ensuring the secure celebration of a distinctive event. Italian media suggested that the men were planning an attack during Wednesday's festivities, which included attendance by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Authorities in Viterbo could not be reached immediately for comments.

The Viterbo's Macchina di Santa Rosa festival, a significant religious procession, takes place annually on September 3 to honor Santa Rosa, the city's patron saint. The highlight of the event involves 100 porters, known as “Facchini di Santa Rosa,” carrying a massive, illuminated "Macchina" structure, weighing nearly 5 tons, through the narrow medieval streets of the city.

Recently, Turkish authorities have escalated operations against Turkish criminal organizations operating overseas, collaborating with European police forces.

This April, coordinated raids across Turkey and several European nations led to 234 arrests related to drug trafficking and money laundering, alongside the seizure of over 21 tons of narcotics.

Additionally, in May 2024, a combined task force of Italian law enforcement and Interpol raided a residence in the Viterbo hamlet of Bagnaia, capturing Baris Boyun, a reputed Turkish mafia boss and one of Ankara's most sought-after fugitives. (AP)

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