Six police and coastguard officials have been ordered to stand trial for mishandling operations during one of the deadliest migrant shipwrecks in Italian history, prompting a furious backlash from government officials who say the smugglers are to blame, not the rescuers.
More than 90 people were killed by the 2023 disaster near the town of Cutro, including at least 30 children. Many others were injured.
Reports on those being sent to trial—for negligent shipwreck and multiple manslaughter—have somehow failed to mention that joint efforts of the Italian Coast Guard and Frontex, the European border agency, resulted in more than 80 people on the ship being rescued. That was thanks to the deployment of many motorboats, vessels, and a helicopter.
Frontex said in a statement shortly after the event that those who lost their lives did so “due to the actions of unscrupulous people smugglers who crammed people on board in bad weather conditions.”
Responding to the news of these trials, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini—currently being pursued himself in a separate migrant case—said he had “one single word: SHAME.”
Prosecuting six soldiers, who every day risk their lives to save others. SHAME.
Una sola parola: VERGOGNA. Processare sei militari, che ogni giorno rischiano la vita per salvare altre vite. VERGOGNA. pic.twitter.com/czMBPMBtBO
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
