Italy at risk of a terrorist attack, says spy chief

Mario Parente was addressing the lower house of parliament`s COPASIR committee which oversees Italy`s intelligence services.

Rome: Italy remains at risk of a terrorist attack although there are at present no specific threats, the head of the country's domestic intelligence services told lawmakers on Thursday.

"There is no concrete threat that is apparent but Italy is at risk and intelligence-gathering activities have been increased," Mario Parente said.

He was addressing the lower house of parliament's COPASIR committee which oversees Italy`s intelligence services.

Italy, like the whole of the West, is in the terrorists` cross-hairs and security has been tightened at hard and soft targets, including new sites, COPASIR head Giacomo Stucchi said.

Internet monitoring has been stepped up as well as tracking of individuals deemed at psychological risk of carrying out "lone wolf" attacks -- believed to be the biggest terror threat to Italy, it emerged from the briefing.

Following the recent wave of attacks in France and Germany, Italy is on "level two" terror alert, the highest possible in the absence of a direct attack.