Premier Giorgia Meloni praised Italy’s police and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi on Thursday following the arrest of two armed Turkish men in Viterbo.
The arrests, which occurred on Wednesday night just before the city’s Macchina di Santa Rosa procession, ensured the safe continuation of the event.
Authorities detained the suspects at a bed-and-breakfast near the procession route, where automatic rifles were discovered in their possession. Investigators are exploring whether the duo were part of an arms-trafficking network or planning a terror attack.
The case may connect to a recent arrest of a Turkish organized crime figure in the Viterbo region. In May 2024, Italian law enforcement working with Interpol captured alleged mafia boss Baris Boyun during a raid in Bagnaia, near Viterbo. He had been under house arrest when taken in, and had reportedly been orchestrating a criminal network that included murder, trafficking and even planned bazooka-style attacks while under surveillance.
Meloni applauds decisive action
On social media, Meloni extended her “congratulations to the police and Interior Minister Piantedosi for their prompt intervention that led to the arrest of two armed Turkish citizens in Viterbo, just hours before the Macchina di Santa Rosa festival.” She called it a “decisive operation” that allowed for the safe celebration of the centuries-old festival, which UNESCO recognises as an intangible cultural heritage deeply cherished by locals and Italians alike.
The Macchina di Santa Rosa procession draws thousands each year through Viterbo’s medieval streets. In light of the threat, security was heightened, and the event proceeded without incident. Meanwhile, investigators are scrutinising the suspects’ phones and contacts, in coordination with Turkish authorities
