Picture of people waiting outside the US Consulate in Milan during a bomb scare
A bomb alert that forced the evacuation of a US consulate in Italy today has been lifted, reports said, amid fears of an imminent Al-Qaeda attack.
The alert was raised after a suspicious package was found at the consulate in the Italian business hub of Milan, but no explosives were found, according to leading daily Corriere della Sera.
The ANSA news agency said earlier that the consulate had received a letter referring to an explosive device.
The United States has closed two dozen US embassies in the Middle East and north Africa after its spies intercepted militant communications, reportedly including an attack order from Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
US evacuated dozens of diplomatic staff from Yemen today after its spies intercepted militant communications, reportedly including an attack order from Zawahiri.