Vatican City - The Vatican has formed two new anti-terrorism teams that will work with police to prevent attacks, the Holy See's security director said.
The rapid-intervention and anti-sabotage groups will be subunits of the Vatican's gendarme corps, said corps director Domenico Giani. The Vatican also has begun closer collaboration with Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, according to a June 7 report in L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper.
The Vatican and Pope Benedict XVI have been named as potential terror targets in recent years. An al-Qaida leader recently accused the pope of leading a campaign against Islam.
Although the Vatican has downplayed the threats, it also has strengthened security, adding metal-detectors for all visitors to St. Peter's Basilica and attendees at papal events.
The gendarme corps also has been deployed at Vatican territories outside Vatican City, including at Rome's patriarchal basilicas, according to Catholic News Service.