Decoding the news. Italian police arrested two Turkish nationals in Viterbo just hours before the centuries-old Santa Rosa festival. The men were found in a B&B near the Santa Rosa monastery, armed with a submachine gun, a pistol, and dozens of rounds of ammunition.
Why it matters. Authorities are investigating whether the suspects were preparing a terrorist attack or linked to Turkish organized crime.
The operation underscores Italy’s preventive security approach during major public events.
- They refused to answer questions from prosecutors and are currently held on charges of arms trafficking.
- Investigators are combing through their phones, belongings, and contacts, with coordination from Turkish authorities.
The big picture. These arrests add further evidence to the Turkish criminal network in Italy.
- Baris Boyun’s network: dismantled in Bagnaia last year, where B&Bs were turned into arms depots and bases for drug trafficking and intimidation.
- Ismail Atiz: arrested this August in Viterbo on charges including money laundering, extortion, and illegal weapons possession.
- Recent developments: another alleged Ankara mafia member was tracked down in Anagni just days ago.
What they’re saying. Giorgia Meloni praised law enforcement for the “swift intervention that led to the arrest of two armed Turkish citizens in Viterbo”. A “decisive operation”, said the italian PM, that ensured the UNESCO-recognized Santa Rosa event could proceed safely.
The expert view. Claudio Bertolotti, director of the think tank Start InSight, told Decode39 the case shows Italy’s preventive capacity: “Whether it was a terrorist plot or a mafia operation, the interception was extremely effective.
- Italy’s approach to terrorism prevention is rooted in decades of experience, from domestic red and black terrorism in the 1970s to jihadist threats after 2001. Since 2015, at least nine attempted terror attacks have taken place in Italy — all failed to cause fatalities, unlike attacks in Paris or Brussels.
- Bertolotti explains: “The difference is that Italian cases have been operationally unsuccessful. They caused injuries, attempted spectacular actions, but never achieved their original intent of killing. That limited media coverage and fed the misconception that Italy is not a target.”
- Analysts warn of overlaps between Turkish organized crime and radical Islamist networks, particularly ISIS-Khorasan.
What we’re watching. The Viterbo case highlights Italy’s intelligence coordination and the ability to intercept operations and criminal cells on the territory before they act.
- An effective example is the Casa platform (Strategic Anti-Terrorism Analysis Committee), which brings together DIGOS, ROS, and intelligence agencies weekly to share updates.
