Tense moments unfolded in Viterbo, central Italy, during one of the city’s most cherished traditions: the Transport of the Macchina di Santa Rosa. Police foiled an alleged terror plot that could have turned the centuries-old religious celebration into tragedy. Two Turkish nationals were arrested in a local bed and breakfast along the procession route. Authorities reported they were armed with firearms, including a submachine gun and loaded pistols, and allegedly planned to open fire on the crowd at the end of the event. A third suspect escaped and remains at large. Investigators believe the men may have ties to the Turkish mafia and to crime boss Baris Boyun, arrested in the Viterbo area in 2024. The Feast of Santa Rosa, held every September 3, honors the city’s patron saint with the transport of a towering 30-meter-high, five-ton illuminated structure, carried on the shoulders of 100 porters. The ritual, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, draws tens of thousands of spectators. In response to the threat, security forces deployed special units, snipers, and canine teams. For the first time, the Macchina was moved under streetlights rather than in darkness, a break with tradition aimed at preventing panic and allowing tighter surveillance. Despite the fear, the procession concluded safely before an audience of more than 40,000. Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, who attended the event, praised the mayor and prefect for ensuring security without alarming the crowd. “This extraordinary moment could be celebrated in safety thanks to their choices,” he said, adding that the episode should serve as a warning against “those who spread hate through violent language.”