http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/02/23/extra-troops-posted-in-rome-after-isis-threat/

by Staff Reporter

posted Monday, 23 Feb 2015

St Peter's Square (Photo: PA)

Rome on high alert with Islamic State just 300 miles from Italy

About 500 extra troops have been stationed around historic sites in Rome after ISIS made threats against the city last week.

Italy, which is just 300-miles from jihadi-controlled territory in Libya, was referred to by the terrorists as “the nation signed with the blood of the cross” in a recent video.

ISIS has made repeated references to conquering Rome in its various messages, although there is some debate about whether “Rome” in fact refers to a symbolic enemy, or perhaps Turkey or the United States. However, according to USA Today, security has been increased in the city.

In its video last week of the murder of 21 Coptic Christians , ISIS warned that they were “south of Rome”. The Islamist organisation now controls Benghazi, Libya’s second city, as the country has descended into civil war following the overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi in 2011.

It has threatened to flood Europe with 500,000 refugees and so destabilise the continent.