US military base in Sicily locked down over security threat investigation
A security incident prompted a brief lockdown at the U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Italy, on Wednesday morning. The base, a key NATO operations hub in the Mediterranean, instructed its personnel to shelter in place as a precaution.
According to the base’s official Facebook page, the lockdown affected travel between the base’s housing complex and other areas. The alert lasted for several hours before being lifted around 11:25 CET.
Italian authorities, including local police and bomb squad units, investigated a suspicious package found on the base. After inspection, it was determined that the package did not pose a threat.
In a statement, the base thanked its Navy Security Force for their swift response. No injuries were reported, and further details about the incident were expected to be released later.
Naval Air Station Sigonella, located near Catania, is home to U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance planes and MQ-4C Triton drones, playing a crucial role in missile threat detection in the region.