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Officers swooped to St Peter’s basilica after the alert in a bank on the road leading to the Vatican.

Police tape and vehicles were seen near the church, which is one of the main areas for tourists to the Italian capital.

The Pope was giving his weekly address in the Vatican when police were alerted to the Credito Artigiano bank.

Members of the public were evacuated from the Via della Conciliazione, which was then cordoned off as police investigated.