ROME (Reuters) – Controls at the border between Italy and Slovenia will continue this month, Rome’s parliament minister said on Thursday, and the government could decide to further extend their duration.
Italy reinstated police checks at the border in its northeast as of Oct. 21 for an initial 10 days, suspending the free movement normally allowed within most of the European Union under the Schengen treaty.
Following the attack on Israel by Hamas, and assaults by self-proclaimed Islamist militants in France and in Belgium, Rome said the threat of violent action had increased inside the EU.
“The measure has been extended from 31 October for another 20 days, in agreement with the Slovenian and Croatian governments, but its duration will also depend on how the international scenarios evolve,” Minister Luca Ciriani said.
Last month, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the border checks were likely to be extended into next year, citing the risk of terrorists among the migrants in transit on the Balkan route.
Ciriani said 10 people had so far been arrested on charges of aiding and abetting illegal immigration as a result of the controls.
(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Writing by Angelo Amante; Editing by Keith Weir)
