"Pen Pistol Triggers Italian Airport Alarm"

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

ITALY: 'PEN-PISTOL' TRIGGERS AIRPORT ALARM
Adnkronosinternational (AKI)


Treviso, Italy, (AKI) - The finding on Tuesday of a "pen-pistol" in a
flower-bed at an airport in Treviso, near Venice, prompted a tightening of
security checks at the facility including searches on all aircraft. Police
found the weapon - a firearm disguised as a pen and capable of firing .22
calibre bullets - during a routine inspection near the San Giuseppe
airport's departure lounge. The airport is popular with many visitors to
Venice because it handles flights by popular budget airlines such as Ryan
Air.

Police said the weapon was of "high quality" and was probably manufactured
in Eastern Europe and it was not loaded. Whoever was carrying it probably
got rid of it for fear of being detected during boarding controls, police
said.

Security has been stepped up around Italy in the wake of July's London
bombings. Islamic militants have repeatedly threatened terrorist attacks
against the country unless it withdraws its military contingent from Iraq.

Attached Photo:

Security at Italian airports has been intensified since the London bombings.

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