Rome calls for more security to protect against attacks

ROME (AP) – Rome’s mayor says 500 extra police officers and dozens of soldiers have been requested to strengthen security at sites in the Italian capital that could be targets for terror attacks.

Mayor Ignazio Marino said he hopes the interior and defense ministries will quickly send in the security forces authorities have requested.

But he stressed that Rome’s prefect, or top security official, said at a briefing Tuesday that current information from the Interior Ministry “tends to rule out an imminent possibility of terrorist attacks in our city.”

Because of the heightened alert, government offices, embassies, tourist attractions as well as the Vatican are among the sites deemed by authorities to be “sensitive” and needing enhanced security.

Marino said the prefect requested that 85 soldiers be deployed at subway stations.