Italy 'on maximum alert' after Paris shooting

Italy is beefing up security as a precautionary measure following Wednesday's deadly terrorist attack in Paris, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said Thursday.

"Italy is on maximum alert. We are part of the world which is a target. We cannot underestimate any elements," Xinhua news agency quoted him as telling RAI state radio in the wake of the attack on a magazine's office in Paris, which left 12 people dead and 11 others injured.

Special attention is being paid to media organisations, public offices, transport hubs and places of worship throughout Italy, media reports quoted intelligence officials as saying.

Although there are no specific signals suggesting imminent attacks, the biggest threat is posed by "lone wolves", the officials said.

Meanwhile, Alfano also called on the public not to equate Muslims with criminals because "it is one thing to profess a religion and quite another to use a religion for criminal scopes".