Explosive seized

Italian authorities have seized 7 tonnes of powerful RDX explosive apparently being shipped from Iran to Syria and believe that at least part of the cargo may have been intended for Italy, police sources said on Wednesday.

The cargo was found by anti-Mafia police in a shipping container in the southern port of Gioia Tauro.

They are still trying to ascertain whether the explosives were in Italy because the ship transporting them was making a technical stop, or whether part of the cargo was intended to be unloaded in the port.

RDX, also known as T4, is a powerful high explosive designed for military and industrial use.