Vatican terror: Al Qaeda linked terror group planned attack

Rome, April 25: An alleged Al Qaeda linked group members, who had planned attack on Vatican five years ago, have been arrested in Italy, media reported.

Suspected terrorists who were bodyguards of Osama bin Laden before he was killed in a raid by US special forces in Pakistan in 2011 were arrested in a countrywide raid conducted by the Italian authorities, media reported on Saturday.

The arrested suspected terrorist belonged to "an organisation dedicated to transnational criminal activities inspired by Al Qaeda.

The alleged foiled plot, known to authorities for years, was revealed as prosecutors announced the results of a decade-long investigation into an Italy-based terror network that aimed to stop Pakistan's actions against the Taliban.

Police arrested suspects related to the probe Friday throughout Italy. Another nine were being sought, three of whom were believed to still be in the country.

The Vatican said that since the alleged attack plan dated back five years, it had no particular concerns about the security of Pope Francis, who succeeded Pope Benedict two years ago.

OneIndia News