«We will keep watch day and night. The attention for the attack alarm on churches, squares and transport hubs is maximum”, assures the prefect of Naples Michele Di Bari. A plan is ready with a precise map of all the places at risk between Naples and the province, in the hours preceding the peak of tourist arrivals for the Easter holidays. He talks about Bari with “Repubblica” just after the end, yesterday at 1pm, of a Committee for security and public order convened on an alert level, which was raised after the attack in Russia.
«We will strengthen controls in all places deemed sensitive. And not only. We have drawn up a list of the most crowded events, which can therefore be targeted more easily,” she says. Therefore, in the next few hours, checks will be strengthened on those arriving at the airport or at the terrorism alert stations which, after the attack claimed by ISIS in a concert hall in Moscow, has raised the alert level throughout Europe.
All places considered sensitive to possible terrorist attacks have been reported, now that Naples is considered among the capitals of international tourism. But also to prevent incidents of crime, given the numbers of tourists expected, especially foreigners, starting today. «With what is happening in Europe over Easter, a renewed commitment is needed from everyone.
In these hours there will be maximum attention on Capodichino airport, the ports, in particular that of Naples and the railway stations”, repeats the prefect going into detail. In the city of Naples alone, 200 thousand visitors are expected this week. In Capodichino alone, an estimated 175 thousand arrivals have been made since March 29th, mainly from abroad.
To make sure that nothing escapes Di Bari, yesterday morning, gathered all the police forces around the same table in the Government Palace, including the leaders of the Port Authorities and the security councilor of the Municipality of Naples Antonio De Iesu.
«We have developed a strong coordination of the forces on the field. And the traffic police in Naples will also be part of the network, like the 120 additional soldiers that Minister Piantedosi has already sent us. They will all be located in the places indicated”, he explains, going into detail with “Republic”. And places of worship have been included in the list of sensitive objectives to be monitored, with Piazza Garibaldi being the focal point of the station. There will be greater vigilance, immediately, in front of the churches which, with their works of art, attract crowds of tourists, in addition to the faithful. «We also addressed the topic of the many religious events taking place in the next few days», specifies Di Bari.
Therefore, the calendar of the main initiatives planned during these holidays also arrived on the table in the Prefecture during the technical meeting. «Starting with the Easter processions», says the prefect. Rites which, in the Sorrento peninsula and in islands such as Procida with the charm of a centuries-old tradition, attract visitors from every part of Campania. Which adds up to tourists. «We have decided to increase controls also in Sant’Anastasia on Monday in Albis, in that municipality in the Neapolitan area we know that thousands of people arrive», is one of the examples given by Di Bari to explain how the plan works.
More controls therefore to guarantee the procession known for the presence of the “fujenti”, that is, groups of devotees on pilgrimage towards the Sanctuary of the Madonna, where in recent years the clans have managed to enter with tributes to the local bosses. But explains the prefect «to monitor the places considered sensitive we did not ask for more men. We will rather deploy the forces we have in order to guarantee security where it is necessary.”
And the motorway and road junctions considered strategic have also been included in the map of sensitive places. Like the state road that leads to the Sorrento peninsula. For the moment, the provision of alternate license plates will not come into force on the coast. Measure deemed ineffective by several mayors of Sorrento municipalities, after last year’s flop. «In this case too we have decided to use more officers in order to guarantee road safety», repeats Di Bari.
«In the meantime – concludes the prefect of Naples – we have achieved the result of guaranteeing the safety of doctors and nurses in the hospitals of Castellammare di Stabia and San Paolo in Naples; the police squad will arrive in the first ten days of April”
