Authorities Demolish Illegal Rromani Immigrant Camp In Rome

The major operation unfolded around 08.00 (09.00 romanian time), with the participation of one hundred police officers and agents from the Environment Guard. A total number of 70 shacks were demolished, and tens of people without residence documents were identified. However, Italian authorities suspect that many camp inhabitants fled upon seeing police cars, Il Giornale reported online.

"We have identified 70 people (without adequate documents), including 15 minors, and we have confiscated three cars. Tomorrow (Wednesday t.n.) we will repeat the action on the shores of the river Tiber, to unmask the connections between the criminal underground and the clandestine inhabitants of shacks. Many camps contained drugs and weapons," said Raffaele Clemente, representative of the Roman Chestura.

"Today’s intervention ended a situation of shameful degradation. However, right now, mayor Veltroni will have to decide the expulsion of immigrants who do not have adequate papers, or the camp will resurface somewhere else, and all our efforts will have been futile," said city councilor Fabrizio Ghera (member of the National Alliance).