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CRIME

One dead and four hurt in supermarket knife attack near Milan

One person was killed and four others injured, including on-loan Arsenal footballer Pablo Mari, in an attack at a shopping centre near Milan on Thursday, officials said.

One dead and four hurt in supermarket knife attack near Milan
The shopping centre where a man stabbed five people in Assago, south of Milan. Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP

A 46-year-old Italian was arrested immediately after the attack at Assago, on the outskirts of Milan, according to the ANSA news agency.

While the motive was unclear, media reports said police had ruled out any terrorism link.

The man grabbed a knife from a shelf in a Carrefour supermarket in the mall and started randomly attacking people, with at least four people hurt, reports said.

A “young supermarket employee… unfortunately lost his life as a result of the injuries received,” said Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy region, which includes Milan.

But he added that the other people injured “fortunately do not seem to be in life-threatening danger”, in a post on social media.

Fontana thanked employees, customers and police who “intervened to stop the madman”, as well as the medical staff who helped the victims.

Among those hurt was Mari, the Spanish defender for Monza football club, on loan from Arsenal.

Mari is to undergo surgery on Friday for injuries sustained during the attack, Serie A club Monza said.

The 29-year-old defender was hospitalised on Thursday night after being wounded in the back, but was conscious
and able to speak.

In a Tweet, North London club Arsenal said its thoughts were with Mari and the other victims, adding: “We have been in contact with Pablo’s agent who has told us he’s in hospital and is not seriously hurt”.

“Dear Pablo, we are all close to you and your family, we wish you well, keep fighting as you know how to do, you are a warrior and you will get well soon,” said Monza chief executive Adriano Galliani, in a message tweeted by the club.

Supermarket giant Carrefour confirmed the death of one of its employees in the attack in Assago

The company said it was “deeply saddened” at the news and offered its condolences to the families of the staff member killed, and the other victims.

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TERRORISM

Terror alerts: Should I be worried about travelling to Italy?

Italy is on its highest-level terror alert and ministers have warned the public to be vigilant over the Easter holidays - so is there cause for concern if you're planning to travel in the country?

Terror alerts: Should I be worried about travelling to Italy?

Italian authorities agreed on Monday to increase anti-terrorism monitoring ahead of the Easter holidays, with more surveillance to be carried out at popular tourist spots and at “sensitive sites”.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had stressed to the public on Sunday that Italy faced “no concrete risk” at the moment, and said the country’s security and law enforcement services were “always on the alert to prevent any attack.”

READ ALSO: Italy on maximum terror alert over Easter after Moscow attack

Nevertheless, he warned that “during the Easter holidays you will need to be very careful.”

Italy has been on its highest-level terror alert since October 2023 following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, meaning the official alert level could not be raised any further on Monday.

The plan for increased surveillance and the warnings to the public in Italy came following the terrorist attack at a concert hall in Moscow on Friday where armed men opened fire and set the building ablaze, killing at least 133 people.

Ministers said that terror plots on this scale, organised by groups, “would be intercepted sooner in Italy” and said the main terror threat Italy faced at the moment was mainly from “lone wolves”.

He was referring to the fact that recent deadly attacks in Europe have often been carried out by a single perpetrator, not affiliated to a terrorist organisation. The profile of attackers is often isolated young men who have become radicalised.

Unlike most other major European countries, Italy has not so far suffered any deadly attacks at the hands of jihadist militants.

Experts have suggested that Italy has been able to prevent attacks partly due to lessons learned from anti-mafia policing, and that it also has a lower number of citizens at risk of radicalisation than countries like the UK or France – and therefore fewer suspects to watch.

The country arrests dozens of suspects every year on terrorism charges following surveillance operations. Earlier in March, three men of Palestinian origin were arrested in the Abruzzo town of l’Aquila, alleged to be involved in an organised terror plot.

In 2023, at least 56 foreign nationals were deported from Italy after facing terror-related charges.

Italy is generally seen as being at a lower risk of being hit by a major terror attack than some neighbouring countries. So what exactly does the raised alert level mean for people in the country?

Heightened security

While much of Italy’s counter-terrorism work goes on behind the scenes, there will be increased police and military patrols over Easter in busy public places deemed “sensitive”, including shopping centres and places of worship.

The most visible manifestation of the heightened security alert in Italy is the armed soldiers on patrol outside government buildings, tourist attractions, airports, train stations, central squares and in other busy public areas.

Unlike in some other European countries, Italy’s airports do not regularly experience bomb hoaxes and other threats. While no additional security checks for passengers are being introduced, security is likely to remain tight at Italian airports this Easter, as at all European transport hubs.

If you’re visiting a major tourist attraction over Easter or attending any type of large public event, expect a high level of security at the door.

Travel advice

So far, no country has warned its nationals against visiting Italy – the US State Department still lists the alert level for Italy as Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, which has seen no change since July 2023. 

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