Islam Times - Extremist attacks on the rise in Italy

Islam Times - Police in Italy have raised the state alert due to the series of letter bomb attacks on European government and financial institutions that have been claimed by Italian anarchists.

The Italian Informal Anarchist Federation, also known as FAI, described by intelligence sources as made up of various terrorist groups, has claimed responsibility for the recent parcel explosive attacks.

On Friday Italy's Informal Federation of Anarchy (FAI), claimed responsibility for a letter bomb blast on Friday that nearly blinded the director of Italy's tax collection agency, Marco Cuccagna.

The FAI has also claimed responsibility for another letter bomb intercepted by German police on its way to Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank chief executive, Josef Ackermann, on Wednesday December 7.

On Tuesday, French police also neutralized a letter bomb sent to the Greek embassy in Paris from Italy in what appeared to be the latest in a string of explosive parcel attacks.

Extreme left-wing and anarchist movements have existed for decades in Europe. They staged deadly attacks across the continent.

In the 1970s and 1980s, downfall in the economy and the swirl of various counter-cultural currents in Italy led to the violent “years of lead”.

According to some an apparent revival of the 1970s-style terrorism is making way in Italy these days.

Italy has been hit hard by government cutbacks and unemployment resulting from a continent-wide debt crisis. This might have triggered even more rage and discontent in radical groups.

The Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti is considered by many to be very loyal to the EU governing body and the financial institutions.