Crisis in the Middle East, Viminale: 'lone wolves' the main risk. Mattarella: EU defence needed

The main risk to security comes from the potential actions of 'lone wolves'. Thus Viminale sources, after the meeting of the National Committee for Public Order and Security convened by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, in the aftermath of Iran's attack on Israel. And on the part of the apparatuses there is also attention on irregular migratory flows to intercept potentially dangerous subjects. In this regard, controls at the eastern border remain in force.

"In a context characterised by threats of extraordinary intensity, the European Union is also called upon to raise the level of its commitment, and to do so urgently. It is a reflection that today focuses on finally creating a common defence, after the unsuccessful attempts at the end of the last century'. This was reiterated by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, speaking at the NATO 75th anniversary conference organised by Sioi. "Twenty-five years ago in Helsinki," the Head of State recalled, "it seemed that this goal was within reach. Its dissolution has in recent years repeatedly made the Union a mere bystander to events whose negative effects it suffered. Giving the European Union greater strategic autonomy will allow NATO to be stronger, precisely because of the complementarity between the two organisations, with the strengthening of one of its pillars, which is more fragile today'.

The escalation in the clash between Israel and Iran has brought the security dossier under the government's lens and Italy is armouring itself. Embassies and consulates, but also associations and meeting places close to Tehran. The attack launched on Saturday night by Iran against Israel had inevitable repercussions also in Italy, with the umpteenth "update" of the sensitive targets to be kept under the utmost control by the authorities. And so, as already happened after 7 October with structures and buildings traceable to Israel and Palestine, the alert was raised to the highest level also for Iranian representations in Italy. The summit served to take stock of the situation regarding the threat and to reshape the measures. The fear is not only related to possible protests that could take place in the coming days, but also to the actions of so-called 'lone wolves' or in any case of subjects considered particularly at risk to national security. For this reason, the Viminale will proceed with a reconnaissance of the targets considered most at risk - there would be at least 250 -, from diplomatic offices to the headquarters of associations or communities linked to Tehran. At the same time, intelligence and anti-terrorism actions will continue, keeping communication channels open with Arab countries not aligned with Iranian policy.

Synagogues and mosques remain under close observation, of course, but also the headquarters of the Jewish communities, including the Rome ghetto where the alert has already been at its highest level for months. The area is armoured, but still crowded with many tourists, despite the tensions in the Middle East.

Sensitive targets have therefore been identified, on which the attention of the police is focused. Speaking on 25 March to the Tg2 Post, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi clarified that 'in the aftermath of 7 October, when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict flared up again, we identified numerous sensitive targets on the national territory that can be traced back to that crisis area. We identified 250 Jewish or Israeli targets, thousands of sites that we somehow put under attention for various reasons'.