Italian Police Bust Al Qaeda-Linked Terror Ring

Italian police have arrested 20 people suspected of membership in an al Qaeda-linked terror ring in Italy.

Police say some members of the terror ring are responsible for "numerous bloody acts of terrorism in Pakistan," including the deadly explosion in a market in Peshawar in 2009, which killed more than 100 people.

One suspect in Sardinia may have been connected with a suicide bombing plot on the Vatican in 2010.

"We don't have proof; we have strong suspicion," Police Chief Mario Carta said.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi seemed unimpressed with their suspicions.

"From what it appears, this concerns a hypothesis that dates from 2010, which didn't occur," Lombardi said in a statement. "It has therefore no relevance today and no reason for particular concern."
    
Investigators believe the terror network's goal was to create an insurrection against Pakistan's government.