- Title: ITALY: Tension marks Christmas following Rome explosions
- Date: 25th December 2010
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (DECEMBER 24, 2010) (REUTERS) PEOPLE IN THE STREET TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE WALKING PAST TWO WOMEN ASSISTING ELDERLY WOMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT ACHILLE SAVONA SAYING: "A climate of tension has always existed here, now the question is whether it gets better or worse. Unfortunately there is no other way." (REPORTER ASKING QUESTION OFF CAMERA) "Look
- Embargoed: 9th January 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy, Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA70OTIW7QHH6U3G716TCC0GJFM
- Story Text: Italians felt little Christmas cheer on Friday (December 24) the day after explosions shook the Roman embassy district on Thursday (December 23).
An Italian anarchist group claimed responsibility for Thursday's parcel bombs that wounded two people at the Swiss and Chilean embassies in the capital. The blasts were a reminder of Europe's home-grown threats at a time of political instability.
A Swiss man was seriously wounded and rushed to hospital.
An employee at the Chilean embassy was less seriously hurt. A note was found stuck to his clothing. It read: "We have decided to make our voice heard with words and with facts, we will destroy the system of dominance. Long live the FAI. Long-live Anarchy".
The note claiming responsibility on behalf of the FAI, or Informal Anarchist Federation, was released by police the same evening.
The explosions came at a time of political tension in Italy. Last week saw an anti-government student protest that descended into some of the worst street violence in Rome for many years.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini condemned the incidents, which he said were a serious threat to diplomatic missions in Rome. He urged caution and warned against alarmist reactions.
"A climate of tension has always existed here, now the question is whether it gets better or worse. Unfortunately there is no other way," said Rome resident Achille Savona.
"Look, it's all a question of stability in the government. If the government is stable, we'll go ahead, and we'll go ahead fine. Otherwise it's a big question mark, we don't know how it will span out," he added.
"We are angry. We are very angry. There's too much violence, pointless violence," another resident, Teresa Mappo, added.
The FAI is well known to Italian authorities. Intelligence services last year stated in a report that the FAI was "the main national terrorist threat of an anarchist-insurrectionalist type."
In December 2009 the group claimed responsibility for a bomb that partially exploded in a tunnel under Milan's Bocconi University at 3 am. There were no casualties as a result of that attack.
Recent spending cuts have led to demonstrations and strikes across Europe and experts anticipate a rise in political violence by far-left groups as a result.
Rome residents preparing for the Christmas weekend said they felt nervous.
"At Christmas, the Italians think of the dinner table. We are lucky in this way. But actually there is some uncertainty at this moment," taxi driver Claudio Stipelli said.
"This is not a nice thing. It's not good because there was also this false alarm on the subway so people are not happy to go out. I have to go shopping for gifts for instance and I'm not feeling comfortable. But we have to keep going. The times are such," Tina Reitano added.
The explosions follow the discovery of a rudimentary device in an empty underground train in Rome on Tuesday. However, police said there was no detonator with the device and tests showed it contained no explosives. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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