Italian Prison Officer Investigated Following Shooting Incident
In a troubling incident that has drawn significant attention, Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into a prison police officer for attempted murder after he discharged his firearm at a handcuffed Moroccan detainee. The incident occurred in Prato, where the 22-year-old Moroccan was attempting to escape from a hospital emergency department. Reports indicate that the detainee was shot in the leg during the altercation, although his injuries are not life-threatening, according to local Italian media outlets.
Surveillance footage from the hospital reveals a tense confrontation, showing two officers pursuing the detainee in a confined space from which he could not escape. In a split-second decision, one officer fired three shots, with at least one of them striking the detainee. The ongoing investigation will scrutinize various factors, including the trajectory of the bullets, the distance from which they were fired, and whether the use of lethal force was justified under the circumstances. It is essential to note that the initiation of an investigation does not imply any established criminal liability on the part of the officer.
The Moroccan detainee had originally been apprehended near La Dogaia prison, where he was alleged to have attempted to throw five packages of hashish and two mobile phones over the prison wall. This incident was compounded by the detainee's prior injury sustained during an earlier escape attempt, which necessitated his transfer to the hospital. An attorney representing the officer involved stated that of the three shots fired, two were aimed into the air and one discharged toward the ground after another officer called for assistance. This account has sparked debate, particularly from the prison police union, Sappe, which claimed that the detainee had used a fire extinguisher as a weapon during the confrontation, resulting in injuries to one of the officers involved.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
