Italians mock ISIS threats of ‘conquering’ Rome on Twitter

Social media users aligned with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) threatened on Twitter they would soon “conquer” Italy’s capital, Rome, a warning that did not sit well with Italian Twitter users.

Instead of panic and fright, Italians responded mocking the militant group using the hashtag #We_Are_Coming_O_Rome - the same one that radicals created to send their threats.

The threat comes after the release of a video, reportedly shot in Libya, showing the beheading of 21 Christian Egyptian workers in which a masked militant said “Today we are south of Rome. We will conquer Rome with Allah’s permission.”

To the militants’ dismay, the Romans and others did not take the threat very seriously.

One user posted: “#We_Are_Coming_O_Rome I'll alert the Gladiator!” in reference to a 2000 film starring Australian actor Russell Crowe.

Others depicted what would Roman soldiers’ response be to the threat.

One user warned the group of one the most challenging tourist sights in Italy.

Users praised how the threat has been received by the Italians, lauding their sense of humor.