Italy and the Vatican's upcoming Jubilee were not in the crosshairs of an alleged network of jihadist plotters smashed in a European counter-terrorism operation on Thursday, police said.
Sixteen Kurds and a Kosovan with links to the alleged jihadist network were arrested in Italy, Britain, Norway and other European countries accused of recruiting and radicalising Muslims and of plotting attacks in Europe and the Middle East according to investigators.
Millions of pilgrims are expected to visit Rome and the Vatican for the Jubilee Year of Mercy starting next month, an event posing a major security challenge for the capital. It is currently being run by a special commissioner after its elected centre-left mayor Ignazio Marino was forced out last month over an expenses scandal.
Pope Francis has said the Jubilee Year of Mercy will start on 8 December.
