Latest news with #Digos
Arab News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Italian celebrity chef questioned by antiterrorism unit over anti-Israel posts
LONDON: Italian celebrity chef Rubio, born Gabriele Rubini, has been questioned by Italy's antiterrorism police and had his electronic devices seized over a series of social media posts critical of Israel's actions in Gaza. A vocal pro-Palestine activist, Rubio was briefly detained and interrogated last week by Digos — Italy's antiterrorism division — on charges of inciting racial hatred, according to his friend and journalist Alberto Fazolo, who shared details of the case on Monday. Fazolo said Rubio's X account posts triggered the investigation, describing it as a 'blitz' aimed at obtaining data from his online activity, an operation usually carried out by a different police unit. 'Death to diplomats complicit in the genocide that has been ongoing for 77 years, death to colonialism, supremacism, racism, and anti-Muslim hatred. Death therefore to Zionism and the Jewish colony. Long live Palestine and the native Palestinian Semites,' one of them read. Fazolo said Rubio remains free but has lost access to his social media accounts and private messages during the investigation. Authorities are reportedly reviewing his Telegram and Signal chats as part of the probe. His accounts remain publicly visible, but he is unable to use them. 'Gabriele is free, he is keen to assure you that he is well,' Fazolo said. 'But for a while he will not have the opportunity to communicate through his channels or contact details.' Rubio has long been a controversial figure in Italy due to his outspoken criticism of Israeli policy and strong support for the Palestinian cause. Pro-Israeli groups have previously accused him of antisemitism, which Rubio denies. Earlier this year, he drew fresh backlash after urging his followers to submit war crimes complaints against Israeli Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, who was visiting Rome at the time. In May 2024, Rubio was violently assaulted outside his home by six unidentified attackers armed with bricks and hammers, an attack his supporters linked to his activism. Fazolo said Rubio has 'been persecuted for years' due to his efforts to raise awareness about what he calls the 'ethnic cleansing of Palestine.'
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Why anti-terrorism squad arrived after Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding in Venice — no, it's not due to protests
It wasn't just the star-studded guest list or opulent venues that made headlines during Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's €40 million wedding in Venice, it was also the unexpected arrival of Italy's anti-terrorism unit. But contrary to what many might assume, their involvement had nothing to do with the widespread protests that shadowed the billionaire's celebration. The unit was there since a dress was missing. As per a report by The Guardian, Sánchez packed 27 designer dresses for her wedding with Bezos — but reportedly left with only 26. Her main ceremony gown is safe. According to Corriere della Sera, the missing garment may have been stolen by someone who gatecrashed Friday night's party. The situation reportedly became so chaotic that Italy's anti-terrorism unit, Digos, was called in to the island. The couple, now honeymooning in Taormina, Sicily, tied the knot during a three-day celebration on the exclusive island of San Giorgio. As per The Guardian, sources familiar with the matter confirmed that a dress had indeed vanished, but denied it was stolen. They also denied reports of a dress catching fire, allegedly involving a vintage Dolce & Gabbana piece, or that gatecrashers infiltrated the event. The couple believes the dress would 'turn up' at some point, so they did not file any formal complaints. The wedding, said to cost between €40 million and €48 million, featured themed parties and a guest list that included Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, and Kim Kardashian. Yet, across Venice, anti-Bezos protests intensified, forcing a last-minute change in the location of Saturday's reception. As per a report, the protest saw activists project the slogan 'No Kings, No Bezos' in green laser across the bell tower at St Mark's Square. Another involved a Bezos mannequin floating along the Grand Canal on an Amazon box holding fake dollars. Despite the backlash, Venice's mayor defended the event, saying it brought money to the city. Now in Sicily, the couple are staying at the San Domenico Palace hotel in Taormina, made famous by 'The White Lotus', a television series. Unlike Venice, their arrival has been met with enthusiasm from local leaders. 'Jeff and Lauren, we welcome you with open arms,' said Matteo Francilia, mayor of Furci Siculo, a small town near Messina, The Guardian reported. 'Leave behind the beautiful lagoon with its absurd complaints! Here in Furci Siculo you'll find sun, sea and genuine people, who would welcome you with open arms.'
The Guardian
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Italian police increase security at Tesla dealerships after 17 cars destroyed in Rome fire
Italy's interior ministry has written to police forces across the country to increase security at Tesla dealerships after 17 of the electric cars made by Elon Musk's company were destroyed in a fire in Rome. Italy's state police anti-terrorism unit, Digos, is investigating whether the fire at the Tesla dealership in Torre Angela, a suburb in the east of the capital, was started by anarchists. Firefighters worked for hours to put out the blaze in the early hours of Monday. Drone images showed a row of the burnt-out remains of the vehicles in a parking area of the dealership. Using his social media platform, X, Musk referred to it as 'terrorism'. There are 13 Tesla dealerships in Italy, all managed by the parent company, the majority of them in Rome, but also in other cities including Florence and Milan. An interior ministry source said the circular was aimed at 'raising awareness' of possible anti-Tesla protesters amid a global wave of vandalism in response to Musk's political activities in the US. If needed, surveillance of dealerships would be increased, it said. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion Since the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president in January, Musk has been slashing the federal workforce as chief of the administration's so-called 'department of government efficiency', prompting the emergence of 'Tesla Takedown', a boycott movement that started in the US before spreading to Europe. Although most protests have so far been peaceful, Tesla dealerships and cars have increasingly been targets of vandalism. Seven vehicles were set alight at a dealership in Ottersberg, Germany, on Saturday and two Tesla stores in Sweden, one in the capital, Stockholm, and the other in the costal city of Malmö, were vandalised with orange paint on Monday. Musk has nurtured close relations with European far-right party leaders including the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, who in an interview in early January described him as 'a brilliant man'. Matteo Salvini, who leads the far-right League, a member of Meloni's ruling coalition, expressed solidarity with Musk after the Rome incident. 'Too much unjustified hatred against the Tesla car company,' Salvini wrote on X. 'The season of hate and conflict must come to an end as soon as possible. My solidarity goes out to Elon Musk and to all the workers who have been threatened and attacked.'
South China Morning Post
31-03-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
‘Terrorism' behind fire that destroyed 17 cars at Rome Tesla showroom, says Elon Musk
An overnight fire at a Tesla showroom in Rome that destroyed 17 cars was an act of terrorism, the company's billionaire owner Elon Musk said on Monday. Advertisement Italy's special police unit Digos is leading an investigation into the possibility that anarchists set fire to the cars on the eastern outskirts of the Italian capital, a security source said. Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries in response to Musk's right-wing activism. The tech tycoon, who also owns social media platform X , formerly Twitter, joined US President Donald Trump's administration and has come out in support of far-right parties in Europe. Commenting in a post on social media that made reference to the Rome fire, Musk used the single word 'terrorism'. Advertisement Drone images of the fire showed the burnt-out remains of vehicles lined up in a car park, with two rows of cars back-to-back and a third row some distance away.
Arab News
31-03-2025
- Automotive
- Arab News
Police investigate possible arson as Rome fire destroys 17 Teslas
ROME: Italian police are investigating possible arson at a Tesla dealership in Rome overnight that destroyed 17 cars, a security source said on Monday. Italy's anti-terrorism police unit Digos is leading the investigation and is looking into the possibility that anarchists set fire to the cars on the eastern outskirts of Rome, the source said. Drone images of the Rome fire showed the burnt-out remains of cars lined up in a parking lot, with two rows of vehicles back-to-back and a third row some distance away. Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries, in response to the right-wing activism of company owner Elon Musk. The tech billionaire, who also owns X, has joined US President Donald Trump's administration and has come out in support of far-right parties in Europe. The fire brigade said in a statement that the blaze broke out at around 04.30 a.m. (0230 GMT). The dealership was partially damaged, but nobody was injured.
