Italian government angered by legal probe into migrant shipwreck
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italian-prosecutors-investigate-officials-over-cutro-migrant-shipwreck-2024-07-23/
Italian government angered by legal probe into migrant shipwreck
By Angelo Amante
July 23, 2024 11:40 AM EDT Updated 5 hours ago
ROME, July 23 (Reuters) - Prosecutors in the Italian city of Crotone said on Tuesday they have informed six police and coastguard officers that they may face trial over alleged failures to avoid a migrant shipwreck that killed at least 94 people.
The move was denounced by Italy's right-wing government who defended the two coastguards and four police officers.
"Not only do they risk their lives every day to save others, but they even run the risk of being arrested in the event of a disaster," said Matteo Salvini, leader of the hard-right League party and deputy prime minister in the government led by Giorgia Meloni.
Prosecutors said in a statement that the officers could be charged with multiple manslaughter and negligence that may have contributed to the shipwreck in February last year near the town of Cutro, close to Crotone in the southern Calabria region.
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