Terror threat alert at vacation destination

The US State Department updated its Italy travel advisory in September, maintaining the country at 'Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution' while revising its summary to flag terrorism risk more explicitly, warning of the 'risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy.' The update followed several terrorism-related arrests in the country in recent months: in August, a 16-year-old in northern Italy was arrested on international terrorism charges after investigators said he had spread jihadist and pro-ISIS material online, and in June a separate 16-year-old near Bologna was arrested after authorities allegedly found jihadist material and weapons-making manuals in his possession. The advisory also flagged petty crime -- including purse snatching, pickpocketing and car break-ins -- as a significant concern in tourist areas and on public transportation, including trains, urging travelers to stay alert and monitor local media for breaking news.

Italy was one of several popular destinations to receive updated State Department guidance in the preceding weeks, alongside Peru (crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and terrorism concerns) and Brazil (crime and kidnapping risks including armed robberies, carjackings and drink-spiking robberies).