Security sources said Tuesday
Rome's airspace is being shut down on May 1 due not to specific
terrorist threats but rather as a precautionary measure to be
taken on days when large numbers of people are expected to
gather in public places.
May 1 or International Workers' Day falls on a Sunday this
year, and this means trade union marches and the city's
traditional open-air concert as well as Pope Francis' Angelus
prayer in St. Peter's Square.
Drones, helicopters, and commercial non-airline flights
such as charters and air taxis will be banned from flying over
the nation's capital for 10 hours.
Democratic Party (PD) MPs earlier asked for Interior
Minister Angelino Alfano to answer to parliament as to why the
airspace is being shut down for so long and so thoroughly in
what they called "an unprecedented measure".
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