Two armed Turkish men arrested in Italian city of Viterbo ahead of popular festival

Two armed Turkish men were arrested in the central Italian city of Viterbo, hours before a popular local festival, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday.

Meloni praised police and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi for their “swift intervention” leading to the arrests on Wednesday night, which she said “allowed for the safe celebration of a unique event.”

Italian media reported that the two men were suspected of preparing an attack during Wednesday’s celebration, which was attended by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

Police in Viterbo were not immediately available to comment on the motive of the arrests or the media reports of a possible attack.

Thousands of people attend Viterbo’s Macchina di Santa Rosa festival, a religious procession and celebration held every year on 3 September to honour the city’s patron saint, Santa Rosa.

Read more: Euronews