Police arrest arms traffickers in Viterbo averting possible tragedy

 VITERBO – Italian police said on Thursday that they foiled an attempted terrorist attack at the Santa Rosa festival in Viterbo. The individuals had guns, positioned ready to fire, and a plan of action that had been studied meticulously. The two men were stopped by the Mobile Squad, and in doing so saving the city from what could have been a devastating attack.

 With almost four thousand people filling the streets of the historic centre, with applause, photos and videos, and expectation to admire the iconic machine, an item of UNESCO heritage, that lights up and brings together Viterbo every year. Whilst the city breathed with the emotion of the festival, two men, suspected to be linked to the Turkish crime boss Baris Boyun, prepared a plan that could have turned the evening into a tragedy.

 The criminals had set up shop in a B&B on via Santa Rosa, at the point where the machine would reach its final destination. It was here that the Turks were discovered, with two pistols and a machine-gun, all-in position and ready to fire according to police reports of the incident, which happened during the celebrations on Wednesday evening. 

 The squad was composed to three men, two men who has stayed in the room, and one who had left and vanished before law enforcement arrived. The two men were arrested and transferred immediately to a secure location, where they were interrogated unsuccessfully.

 There were several members of authority present at the parade, such as foreign minister Antonio Tajani, culture minister Alessandro Giuli, and the vice-president of the European Parliament, Antonella Sberna Ariana Meloni, and congressman Mauro Rotelli. This is not the first incident of tension linked to the criminal organization in Viterbo in the last few months.

 The Mobile Squad had already dismantled an important cell of Baris Boyun’s web back in May. However, not all the members of the group were captured and the criminal web continued to operate in the city. Halfway through the procession the city’s lights went off.

 “There was a genuine danger – said the mayor Chiara Frontini – and for security reasons we decided to start the machine with the public lighting on.” The town of Viterbo, where every 3 September the magic of the parade of Santa Rosa lives, found itself facing a grave threat. Despite the fear and tension the parade concluded without any issues.

 “Today this procession is for peace, and the example of Rosa that we must follow,” said bishop Piazza.

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