7 arrested officers in italy
UN | 28.04.2002 11:54
Senior Ministers in Italy have sprung to the defence of seven police officers arrested for allegedly participating in the beating and humiliation of anti-globalisation protesters in Naples last year.
Philip Willan in Rome
Sunday April 28, 2002
The Observer
Senior Ministers in Italy have sprung to the defence of seven police officers arrested for allegedly participating in the beating and humiliation of anti-globalisation protesters in Naples last year.
The seven were arrested on Friday, sparking a revolt by around 100 of their colleagues, who handcuffed themselves together to form a chain around the Naples police headquarters in a bid to prevent the suspects' removal.
Gianfranco Fini, the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the right-wing National Alliance, warned that it would be 'very grave' if there was insufficient evidence to justify the arrests.
Claudio Scajola, the Interior Minister, issued a statement expressing solidarity with the officers, praising their professionalism and spirit of self-sacrifice.
The arrested men are accused of committing physical and psychological violence against demonstrators arrested after protests at an international conference on electronic government.
The officers are accused of kidnap, violence and causing injuries after the unauthorised arrest of young people in hospital emergency rooms.
The indictments are based on the testimony of 85 alleged victims who described being beaten, stripped naked, insulted and forced to kiss an image of Benito Mussolini, Italy's wartime dictator.
The police violence in Naples has been described as a dry run for the repression of anti-globalisation demonstrations at the G8 summit in Genoa four months later. Many protesters were injured and one was shot dead by a young Carabiniere.
Sunday April 28, 2002
The Observer
Senior Ministers in Italy have sprung to the defence of seven police officers arrested for allegedly participating in the beating and humiliation of anti-globalisation protesters in Naples last year.
The seven were arrested on Friday, sparking a revolt by around 100 of their colleagues, who handcuffed themselves together to form a chain around the Naples police headquarters in a bid to prevent the suspects' removal.
Gianfranco Fini, the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the right-wing National Alliance, warned that it would be 'very grave' if there was insufficient evidence to justify the arrests.
Claudio Scajola, the Interior Minister, issued a statement expressing solidarity with the officers, praising their professionalism and spirit of self-sacrifice.
The arrested men are accused of committing physical and psychological violence against demonstrators arrested after protests at an international conference on electronic government.
The officers are accused of kidnap, violence and causing injuries after the unauthorised arrest of young people in hospital emergency rooms.
The indictments are based on the testimony of 85 alleged victims who described being beaten, stripped naked, insulted and forced to kiss an image of Benito Mussolini, Italy's wartime dictator.
The police violence in Naples has been described as a dry run for the repression of anti-globalisation demonstrations at the G8 summit in Genoa four months later. Many protesters were injured and one was shot dead by a young Carabiniere.
UN