Italy expels 2 Moroccans for security threat, report says they wanted to kill pope
By APFriday, May 14, 2010
Italy expels 2 Moroccans, citing security
ROME — Officials say Italy has expelled two Moroccans because they represented a threat to national security.
A news report alleged the two had wanted to kill the pope.
The Interior Ministry issued an expulsion order in April, citing reasons of national security and suspected ties to Islamic terrorists. It did not elaborate.
The ministry said Friday the two — who had studied in the university town of Perugia — were placed on a Casablanca-bound plane in Rome on April 29.
A police video shows them being taken by masked policemen.
The news weekly Panorama quoted Perugia police wiretaps during which one of the two is heard saying he wants to kill Pope Benedict XVI and be rewarded by going to heaven. Perugia police refused to confirm or deny that.
