Explosive found in Rome subway car

A suspicious package containing wires, pipes and explosive powder wasfound Tuesday in a subway car in Rome.

The device in the package did notcontain a detonator and could not have exploded, bomb disposal experts and police said.

The device was found at around 10 a.m.local timeinside a train at the Rebibbia station, on the outskirts of the Italian capital. The train was at the end of the line and empty when the package was found, said Atac, which runs the Rome subway.

Police searched the remaining 46 stations onthe city's two subway lines. Mayor Gianni Alemanno said all stations were secure.

Atac did not close the station and train service was not interrupted, a spokeswoman said.

Continental concerns

Atac said in a statement the device wasfound whenthe train was in an area beyond the platform that is used for manoeuvring.

There have been growing concerns in Europe about holiday season attacks following a suicide bombing in Sweden and security services' fears of an assault on a European city modelled on the deadly shooting spree in Mumbai, India.

Rome has also been the site of violent anti-government protests in recent weeks during which demonstrators have set off flares, firecrackers and other devices; another such protest is planned for Wednesday.

Last year, a Libyan man set off a small bomb while trying to enter an army barracks in Milan, seriously injuring himself and slightly wounding the guard who stopped him. Officials said at the time that the man appeared to be opposed to Italy's military missions overseas. Italy has troops in Afghanistan.