Hat tip Gates of Vienna and Vlad Tepes
Italian police say they have foiled a planned terrorist attack on a Christian festival in the town of Viterbo (Lazio). Two Turks have been arrested and several weapons seized as preparations were underway in Viterbo for the Santa Rosa Feast Day celebration. The two suspects had reportedly rented an apartment overlooking the square in which the event was to occur. Some 40,000 people were expected to attend.
We are in the process of adding English subtitles to an Italian news video.
*Update (September 5, 2025): Since the arrests of the two Turks in Viterbo, 5 other Turks were arrested in the same general area, but have since been released. In addition, police are actively searching for two other Turks.
At this point (according to the article below), police now suspect this may simply be a case of arms traffic by the Turkish mafia as opposed to a planned terrorist attack on the Santa Rosa procession. The investigation continues.
The article below from TG Lazio 7 is translated from Fousesquawk.
Viterbo, Foiled attack at the Festival of Santa Rosa: Two other Turks being sought. The prosecutor opens a case on arms traffic
Reportedly connected to the Turkish Mafia
-Digital editing
September 5, 2025 at 07:38
It looked like there were 7 people feared to be members of a commando ready to open fire on the crowd at the Macchina di Santa Rosa festival, but 5 are reportedly not related. In the evening of Thursday, September 4, 2025, 5 other people were arrested by the Mobile Squad (police) and Digos from the Viterbo Police Hqs. All of them are of Turkish origin and were staying in a bed and breakfast in Montefiascone (Viterbo). Police searched the room(s) of these last 5 persons. To date, no connection has reportedly emerged with the "previous facts". The 5 were therefore released, and there are no charges against them.
On the other hand, the investigators are searching throughout Lazio for two other Turks with road blocks and airport checks.
Previous arrests
Leading the officers to the accommodation, the document used by the arrestees to register, which was the same used by two Turks arrested the day before in another bed and breakfast in Viterbo, because they were found in possession of a semi-automatic pistol, an assault rifle, loaded and ready to use. A circumstance that led the investigators to fear that there was a possible planned terrorist act during the Macchina procession of Santa Rosa.
Connections with the Turkish Mafia
The first 2 arrestees could be connected to a Turkish mob boss, Boris Boyun, a fugitive in his country and arrested last August 26 in Viterbo because he was suspected to be the head of a gang involved in money laundering and other crimes of a violent nature. The man, for whom there was an international arrest warrant, was hiding in a lodging in Viterbo. On that occasion, the police detained 3 other Turkish citizens who were staying in the same guesthouse.
The investigation
Subsequent to the arrests of the past hours, the State Prosecutor of Viterbo opened a case for arms traffic (links to terrorism excluded). The possibility of an attack was being investigated, but is as yet unconfirmed.
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