Italian Justice Minister Angelino Alfano Friday said the country is now stronger and will not be intimidated by the Mafia, news agency Agi reported.
Alfano made the remarks following the arrest of an alleged member of the Mafia with links to an explosive-packed car found Thursday near an airport in the southern region of Calabria, where President Giorgio Napolitano was attending an anti-Mafia summit, Xinhua reported.
"The state will not let itself be intimidated, because it is stronger than all criminal organizations put together", said Alfano.
According to the police, however, the car packed with explosives was not aimed at Napolitano.
Calabria is home to the 'Ndrangheta -- one of the biggest Mafia groups in Italy, which was responsible for a failed bomb attack on a Calabria court house earlier this month.
Alfano said cabinet officials would travel to Calabria on Thursday to unveil a new anti-Mafia strategy in a bid to "root out" the 'Ndrangheta.
Italy has intensified fight against the Mafia based in Calabria since the murder of a leading regional official in 2005.