False alarm over package at US embassy to Vatican

A suspect package was reported at the US embassy to the Vatican on Wednesday but turned out to be a false alarm, police in Rome said.

An Italian group, the Informal Anarchist Federation (FAI), claimed responsibility for parcel bombs sent to the Swiss and Chilean embassies to Italy which injured two staff members who opened them in the mailroom on December 23.

A third device, similar to the two others, was found at the Greek embassy on Monday but did not explode.

US authorities have tightened security procedures at their embassies since the Rome parcel bombs exploded. The embassy to the Vatican is in a different part of town from the much larger US embassy to Italy.

The incidents have prompted concern over a possible rise in violence by domestic European militant groups, exploiting mounting social tension caused by the financial crisis and government austerity packages imposed to pay for it.