Italian police have conducted 80 raids in several northern cities, arresting 15 people allegedly linked to a far-left group associated with the Red Brigades.
The raids Monday took place in Milan, Turin, Padua, Trieste and elsewhere.
Local authorities and media say the suspects were planning several attacks, including one on a home of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and on one of his companies.
Interior Minister Giuliano Amato said that police probably have prevented a Brigade attack, while prosecutor Ilda Boccassini said the suspects consider themselves to be at war with the state.
The Red Brigades conducted high-profile attacks in Italy in the 1970s. The group is held responsible for the 1978 kidnapping and killing of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro.
After about a decade of silence, an offshoot of the group resurfaced, killing two government
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
