Vatican security on high alert over fears of IS attack on Pope Francis

Security has been tightened in Saint Peter’s Square after intelligence services intercepted a possible plan to attack the Vatican, Italian media reported Saturday, increasing fears Pope Francis could be in danger. A foreign security service alerted Italy this week after intercepting a conversation between two Arab speakers which referred to “a demonstrative act, Wednesday, at the Vatican,” a possible allusion to a terrorist plot in the works aimed at Pope Francis. Checks by Italy’s anti-terrorism unit revealed that one of the speakers in the conversation passed through the country eight months ago, heightening concerns the threat may be real.

[What] has been declared by the self-declared Islamic State is clear. They want to kill the pope. The threats against the pope are credible.

Habib Al Sadr, Iraq ambassador to the Holy See

Plain clothes special operations officers with sniffer dogs trained in seeking out explosives are helping Vatican police vet tourists, while hotels in the area are also being kept under surveillance, reports indicate. Pope Francis has made himself a target by speaking out against the Islamic State group and having the Holy See voice support for US air strikes in Iraq, some analysts are saying. There were warnings that the Islamic State extremists may be plotting to attack the pope. While those reports have been shrugged off by the Vatican, but security has nonetheless been increased for his Wednesday and Sunday audiences.

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