Ananova:

Claims that the Mafia were trying to extort money on the set of Ocean's Twelve have been dismissed as "nonsense".

Filming for scenes in the Ocean's Eleven sequel, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, took place in Sicily earlier this month.

Police feared that Mafia suspects seen loitering near the set may have been looking to blackmail film-makers

But producer Jerry Weintraub said: "We were never approached by any Mafia for extortion money. It's ridiculous. It's total fabrication. They said I was worried about my stars. That was nonsense.

"No one ever threatened any of us. If anybody was going to get extorted it was me. All of Italy was great. We had nothing but a wonderful time. I hate for them to get a bum rap like this."

A number of scenes in the movie were shot in the seaside town of Scopello, western Sicily.

Police official Giuseppe Linares said the film's crew and cast were unaware of an undercover investigation into local Mafia activity.

During the investigation, officers noticed some suspected mobsters hanging around the Ocean's Twelve set.

Linares said the mobsters may have been looking to extort the production or could have been concerned that a secret alcove used to hide arms in the area might be uncovered during the production.