Romes police, the city prefect and representatives of the ministry of fine art and culture have now drawn up a list of heritage sites and museums most at risk from possible terrorist attacks. At the beginning of August new anti- terrorist procedures were introduced at the Capitoline Museums, which are visited annually by almost half a million people. Now barriers, metal detectors and X-ray systems for bags are being installed at the entrance to the Colosseum, visited by more than three million tourists a year.

The sites with the most visitors will be the first to get special protection and after the Colosseum the security forces are expected to turn their attention to the Castel S. Angelo and the museum at the Villa Borghese.