Special to WorldTribune.com

Raids throughout Italy targeted 18 suspects in plot to attack the Vatican, a prosecutor said on April 24.

Mauro Mura said the counter-terrorism investigation of planned attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan had found evidence of plans involving Italy.

“We don’t have proof, we have strong suspicion,” said Mario Carta, who is heading the investigation when asked for details about a plot against the Catholic Church.

Intercepted phone calls revealed plans for a “big jihad in Italy,” he said, and other evidence pointed to a plot against the Vatican.

All the suspects are either Pakistanis or Afghans, Carta said. Some arrests have been made including the network’s spiritua leader. Other suspects were thought to have fled the country.

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