The attacks could have targeted Norwegian and British diplomats, Italian media cited Gen Governale as saying.
However, the European Union's Judicial Co-operation Unit (Eurojust), British police, and the Norwegian Police Security Service could not confirm the existence of a plot against diplomats.
Mullah Krekar
- Came to Norway as a refugee in 1991 from Iraq
- Founded Ansar al-Islam, although he later tried to distance himself from the radical Islamist group
- Norwegian authorities have been trying to deport him since 2003 after deeming him a threat to national security. However, under Norwegian law, he cannot be deported to Iraq because he could face the death penalty
- Jailed in 2012 for making death threats against officials and others
- Detained again in February 2015 after praising the Charlie Hebdoattackduring a television interview