عودة المخطوفين إلى أيطاليا

[Haia]

Kidnapped aid workers questioned after returning to Italy



(AGI) Rome, Jan 16 - Greta Ramelli and Vanessa Marzullo, the two Italian aid workers kidnapped and released in Syria, are back home in Italy. They landed in Rome's Ciampino airport at dawn on Friday and were welcomed by Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni. The two young Italians looked worn out and did not speak with reporters. "This morning I greeted Greta Ramelli and Vanessa Marzullo at Ciampino airport on behalf of the Government and, I think, also on behalf of all of Italy. They are worn out but finally free", the Foreign Minister said while reporting on their kidnapping and release to the Parliament. "I consider unacceptable the comment that Vanessa and Greta got what they deserved", he said and added: "Italy needs aid workers and volunteers like them". Then, turning to reports of the payment of a ransom, he said: "I read rumours that are totally unfounded. And I'm surprised that these conjectures and sources were given credit without checking". " In some cases, these rumours were even circulated by terrorist groups", he added. Greta Ramelli and Vanessa Marzullo had not informed authorities of their intention to go to Syria, nor of their presence in the country, Mr. Gentiloni explained. "They were kidnapped during the night between July 31 and Aug. 1 2014 from the home of a local acquaintance in a small village near Aleppo by a large group or armed men who stormed the house", the minister explained. "Any great country is committed to protecting and saving the life of their nationals if they are held hostage", he said. He went on: "A large number of individuals have been orbiting around this specific kidnapping [of Greta Ramelli and Vanessa Marzullo] and have, on several occasions, claimed to be mediators or privileged channels, misleading investigators and throwing them off track by initially referring to Islamic State militants or reporting threats to the safety of the girls and the alleged amount of the ransom paid". Soon after landing, Greta and Vanessa were questioned by the magistrates of Rome's Public Prosecutor's Office in the Carabinieri barracks. The investigation into the kidnapping is conducted by Deputy Prosecutor Giancarlo Capaldo and prosecutors Francesco Scavo and Sergio Colaiocco, on charges that it was committed with the aim of perpetrating an act of terrorism.