The Tuscan town of Pietrasanta's mayor said on Friday he would seek legal damages from German tabloid Bild over its "hoax" report that the Islamic State jihadist group was planning to massacre tourists in the Mediterranean this summer.
"I will take legal action against Bild and seek damages for the alarm it has caused," said Massimo Mallegni.
"It's unacceptable and will gravely damage tourism on our coast and its image," Mallegni said.
Bild's "below the belt" report on Tuesday could dent the number of German holidaymakers visiting the region, he said. "They are vital to our economy," Mallegni stated.
The Italian government and intelligence services swiftly denied the allegation in Bild's report. The tabloid quoted Italian intelligence chiefs as saying IS was plotting a terror campaign by gunmen disguised as African beach hawkers at crowded resorts in Italy, France and Spain.
The attacks could include bombs planted under sunbeds, Bild claimed.
National tourism authority ENIT on Wednesday said it had "full trust in the Italian government's handling of security".
The Bild report stoked "already heightened security fears in Europe," ENIT said, warning the "crucial" tourism sector could be among those most damaged by the tabloid's allegations.
European countries are on maximum security alert after the deadly terror attacks at Brussels international airport and subway on 21 March and in Paris on 13 November, which were claimed by IS.
IS also took credit for the assault at the popular Tunisian beach resort of Sousse last June when 38 tourists were shot dead by a gunman who attacked a hotel.
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