False Alarm Over Suspicious Package on Subway Car in Rome

Rome’s Mayor: Suspected Bomb in Subway Car Could Not Explode

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010 VOA News Rome's mayor says a suspicious package filled with wires and powder found in a subway passenger car Tuesday could not have exploded.

Mayor Gianni Alemanno told reporters that bomb disposal experts determined the rudimentary device could not trigger an explosion.

Officials said a transport worker found

the device during a stop at the Rebibbia station on the outskirts of the Italian capital. No passengers were in the train at the time.

Security officials isolated the area, but did not evacuate the station or stop train service.

Tensions have been high in Rome following violent anti-government protests last week and ahead of another demonstration expected on Wednesday.

The bomb scare comes after a series of terror-related incidents across Europe.

On Monday, British authorities arrested 12 men believed to be preparing for a terrorist attack. Late last week, a suicide bomber killed himself and wounded two people in the Swedish capital Stockholm.