ROME, July 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Security was stepped up at Italy's major airports in the wake of the terrorist bomb attacks in central London on Thursday morning, local media reported.

    In Rome, anti-terrorism measures went into effect at the international airport in Fiumicino and surveillance was also bolstered at the central train station and in the metro line.

    Additional forces were also deployed in front of the British and American diplomatic missions.

    Similar action was taken in Milan, while at the Malpensa and Linate airports no delays or cancellations were reported for flights to and from the British capital.

    According to the Italian Interior ministry that Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu convened a meeting of top police and anti-terrorism chiefs in Rome following the series of attacks on the London transport system.

    The ministry said the meeting would examine the risks to Italy and possible security measures in the light of the London attacks.

    Meanwhile, Italian intelligence sources have dismissed as "unreliable" claims by a group that it was responsible for the explosions in London.

    The statement was posted on an Egyptian website by a group that said it had ties to Al Qaeda.

    The sources said there had been "errors in some of the Arab words" in the statement, which claimed responsibility for the attack and warned that Italy could be the next.

    But the sources said they believed Islamic militants had been behind the attacks.

    "Today's attacks form part of a larger plan that started with the Madrid attacks (in March 2004)," said the sources.

    So far, it reported at least 40 people were killed and more than 350 wounded in the Thursday's explosions. Enditem