No specific terror signals in Italy (3)

(ANSA) - Rome, May 31 - The chief of Italy's anti-terrorism division said Tuesday there are "no specific signals or particular evidence" pointing to imminent or potential Islamist terror attacks in Italy. "We remain on high alert," said Lamberto Giannini after the US State Department issued a Europe-wide summer travel advisory earlier in the day. "(The situation in) Italy and the whole of Europe requires maximum attention," Giannini said. The US State Department issued a travel warning for Europe citing potential risks of terrorist attacks during "major events and at tourist sites". It cited Euro 2016 in France from June 10 to July 10 as well as restaurants, shopping malls, and public transportation. The travel alert expires as of August 31, the State Department said. Giannini added that "associating migrants with terrorism just doesn't stand up".
    "We face an unprecedented menace, one that is fluid and strikes in unpredictable ways," he continued. New measures such as the criminalization of military training for purposes of terrorism have made anti-terrorism operations more effective, he said.
    However Islamist terrorists are constantly "upgrading" their technological capabilities, and this makes wiretapping them increasingly difficult - due in part to telecoms and ICT companies' refusal to provide customer data to law enforcement, he admitted.
    This is why "the human factor", the use of undercover agents, and continued investment in the training of personnel are the keys "to winning this challenge," he said.