Italy's interior minister says a Syrian man has been detained in Genoa on suspicion he intended to join an extremist group in his homeland for the "purpose of international terrorism."

Minister Angelino Alfano said in a statement Wednesday the suspect was detained under recent legislation that forbids joining a terrorist group.

Alfano says the suspect had "manifested the intention to go to Syria to join the Jabat al Nusra Islamist group."

Separately, heightened anti-terrorism measures are being done in Rome. They include the stationing of police cars and van at the end of a boulevard that runs past the Colosseum, and police patrols and surveillance along Via del Corso, a long street lined with clothing shops and which also runs by the premier's office.