ROME, July 12: Italy’s interior minister warned on Tuesday that terrorism was “knocking on Italy’s door” and urged parliament to strengthen security laws to combat the threat of becoming the next target in a nervous Europe.

Giuseppe Pisanu proposed an array of new measures, including boosting police powers to investigate suspects and encourage the use of informants.

“Today, after the massacres in Madrid and London, I have to say that terrorism is knocking even on Italy’s door and the doors of other European countries,” he told the lower house.

The two European countries hit by major attacks so far — Britain and Spain — both supported the US-led war in Iraq, prompting fears that Italy and other countries that backed Washington could be hit too.

Pisanu called for beefed up controls at Italy’s borders and said European police should improve monitoring of both the Internet and phone use.

“We are in a state of intense and prolonged alarm because of the threat that hangs over us and the rest of Europe,” he said in a passionate speech.

Among changes he suggested were extending to all branches of the security services the period a suspect can be detained for identification from 12 to 24 hours.

He called for the strengthening of measures to prevent terrorists from financing their operations, increasing penalties for carrying false documents, and changes to help investigators keep track of who is using mobile phones.

Another change would allow police to question terror suspects initially without the presence of a lawyer. This practice, known as an “investigative conversation”, is currently allowed only in organised crime cases.

He said more government funds would be needed for security for the winter Olympics next year in Turin.

Pisanu, who wants opposition parties to close ranks with the government and support tougher laws, said the proposed changes were not emergency laws and vowed that they would not restrict the personal freedoms of citizens.

He said he was instead proposing “limited modifications” and “fine-tunings” of existing laws. The changes are expected to take the form of a government decree that would be passed this month after parliamentarians express their opinion.

Pisanu spoke as more security scares rattled several cities in a jittery Europe.—Reuters