'Mossad' warns of attack on
Vatican
FROM
RICHARD OWEN IN ROME
AS the Pope led Palm Sunday ceremonies
before
100,000 people in St Peter's Square yesterday, police
were on high alert after a warning to Italy and the Vatican
that there could be an "Islamic terrorist attack" on him
over the Easter period.
100,000 people in St Peter's Square yesterday, police
were on high alert after a warning to Italy and the Vatican
that there could be an "Islamic terrorist attack" on him
over the Easter period.
The tip-off is said to have come from
Mossad, the Israeli
security service. The exchange of intelligence is said to be
one of the first fruits of the warmer relationship between
the Holy See and Israel after the Pope's trip to the Holy
Land.
security service. The exchange of intelligence is said to be
one of the first fruits of the warmer relationship between
the Holy See and Israel after the Pope's trip to the Holy
Land.
As part of tightened security measures, all
those entering
St Peter's Square must now pass through one of 35 metal
detectors placed between its magnificent 17th-century
marble columns. Police said that the detectors would be
used whenever the Pope was inside the basilica or in the
square. Hidden video surveillance cameras have been
installed and the number of plainclothes police in the
square and on surrounding rooftops increased.
St Peter's Square must now pass through one of 35 metal
detectors placed between its magnificent 17th-century
marble columns. Police said that the detectors would be
used whenever the Pope was inside the basilica or in the
square. Hidden video surveillance cameras have been
installed and the number of plainclothes police in the
square and on surrounding rooftops increased.
Commander Roberto Scigliano, the former
chief of police
in Brindisi, Catania and Bari - all seen as crime "hot spots"
- has been appointed to co-ordinate Italian and Vatican
security services at St Peter's.
in Brindisi, Catania and Bari - all seen as crime "hot spots"
- has been appointed to co-ordinate Italian and Vatican
security services at St Peter's.
The Pope, who is nearly 80, is to travel to
the shrine of
Fatima in Portugal next month to give thanks to the Virgin
Mary for saving his life on May 13, 1981 - the feast day
of Our Lady of Fatima - when he was wounded in an
attempted assassination.
Fatima in Portugal next month to give thanks to the Virgin
Mary for saving his life on May 13, 1981 - the feast day
of Our Lady of Fatima - when he was wounded in an
attempted assassination.
Italian intelligence sources told Il
Messaggero, the Rome
daily, that terrorists were planning to "strike at the heart of
the Catholic Church during the Holy Year". The target
was "probably the Pope himself", although other targets
were possible, since "what matters is the symbolism of an
outrage . . . an attack in or around the Vatican would be
enough". Diplomats said that it would be intended to
disrupt the Middle East peace process and overshadow
the Pope's triumph in the Holy Land, when he not only
altered Jewish perceptions of the Church but also backed
the moderate Palestinian leadership of Yassir Arafat and
endorsed the Palestinian right to a homeland.
daily, that terrorists were planning to "strike at the heart of
the Catholic Church during the Holy Year". The target
was "probably the Pope himself", although other targets
were possible, since "what matters is the symbolism of an
outrage . . . an attack in or around the Vatican would be
enough". Diplomats said that it would be intended to
disrupt the Middle East peace process and overshadow
the Pope's triumph in the Holy Land, when he not only
altered Jewish perceptions of the Church but also backed
the moderate Palestinian leadership of Yassir Arafat and
endorsed the Palestinian right to a homeland.
The Vatican is facing embarrassment
over the prospect
of Jörg Haider, the Austrian far-Right leader, standing
next to the Pope when the pontiff blesses a Christmas tree
in St Peter's Square to be donated by the region of
Carinthia, of which Herr Haider is governor. The square's
tree is usually donated by one of the countries or regions
of Europe with a sizeable Catholic population. Two years
ago, Carinthia was selected for 2000.
of Jörg Haider, the Austrian far-Right leader, standing
next to the Pope when the pontiff blesses a Christmas tree
in St Peter's Square to be donated by the region of
Carinthia, of which Herr Haider is governor. The square's
tree is usually donated by one of the countries or regions
of Europe with a sizeable Catholic population. Two years
ago, Carinthia was selected for 2000.
Comment:
So what's the
"SPIN" here???
