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Italy official proposes anti-terror rules
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-13 10:25
Terrorism is "knocking on Italy's door" and parliament should adopt tougher
measures, including allowing police to detain suspects longer without charge,
the interior minister said Tuesday.
Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu unveiled the package to parliament amid
increased fears of a terrorist attack in Italy after Thursday's bombings in
London.
The measures would include giving police greater investigative powers and
incentives for those helping investigators bring down terrorist cells.
Pisanu proposed that police be able to hold suspects without charge for 24
hours for identification purposes, double the time currently allowed. He also
called for greater surveillance of cell phones, suggesting a directory of mobile
phone users, as well as the strengthening of judicial provisions for
terrorism-linked offenses.
"Today, after the massacres in Madrid and London, I must say that terrorism
is even knocking on Italy's door, as well as on (the door of) other European
countries," Pisanu told lawmakers.
Although there are not specific indications of a terrorist attack, he said
"the evaluation of converging circumstances and clues pushes us to consider it
possible."
Internet threats, including one posted in a claim of responsibility for the
bombings in London, have mentioned Italy as a possible target. Adding to the
concerns of the U.S. ally in the Iraqi war is the fact the two European
countries hit by major attacks so far — Spain in March 2004 and Britain — both
supported the U.S.-led campaign.
A poll published Tuesday in Corriere della Sera showed 82 percent of Italians
believe there is a risk of attack in their country, while 10 percent said there
is no risk and the remaining 8 percent said they did not know. The poll was
conducted by the ISPO institute Friday and Saturday and had a margin of error of
between 2.5 and 4.5 percentage points.
Italian authorities raised their alert level and tightened security across
the country after the London explosions that killed at least 52 people.
Pisanu said 750 extra officials would be deployed in the next few days to
reinforce local police. Security was boosted especially at ports and railway
stations, which he said appeared "rather vulnerable even to medium-sized terror
attacks."
Pisanu is planning to be in Brussels on Wednesday to attend emergency talks
of EU justice and interior ministers to assess the bloc's security measures
after the London bombings.
He is expected to present more specific provisions to the Italian parliament
in the upcoming days and is seeking cross-party support for the security
package.
"Against Islamic terrorism we must avoid divisions and seek common course
instead," he said.
Most in the center-left opposition applauded the interior minister's address,
praising it as "reasonable" and "democratically sound."
"It was a wise speech," said opposition leader Romano Prodi, a former premier
and former EU Commission president. "He shares our same concern, which is the
concern of all Italians: dealing with terrorism in the most effective way."
Pisanu vowed that extra measures would not impinge on civil liberties, and
that his proposals would leave legal and judicial guarantees intact.
The interior minister also devoted part of his speech to illegal immigration,
which Italian authorities say provides profit to international terrorists as
well as fertile ground for recruitment.
Pisanu said that particular attention had been given to monitoring illegal
immigrants already under investigation, and that this monitoring could lead to
the expulsion of suspects from Italy. He added that controls along Italy's
northern and northeastern borders were also being stepped up.
However, he stressed that the threat of a terrorist attack should not be
confused with the "Islamic religion, culture, and civilization."
The Northern League, a party that is part of Premier Silvio Berlusconi's
governing coalition, demanded tougher measures and a "zero-tolerance" approach.
On Monday, Pisanu traveled to Libya to discuss measures against terrorism and
illegal immigration with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi — part of Rome's
long-standing efforts to stop the flow of migrants from northern Africa to
Europe.
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