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Mario Cerciello Rega: US student reportedly confesses to killing policeman Mario Cerciello Rega: US student reportedly confesses to killing policeman
(about 2 hours later)
A 19-year-old US tourist has confessed to the murder of an Italian policeman, Italian media said on Saturday. Two US tourists have appeared at a court hearing in Rome, having being arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murder of an Italian policeman.
The tourist was travelling with an 18-year-old friend, who has also been arrested for alleged involvement in the killing. Local media reports suggest that they were involved in a drug deal that went wrong.
Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, was stabbed to death in central Rome in the early hours of Friday morning, just weeks after returning from his honeymoon. The American men, both 19 years old, were traced to a high-end hotel. One has reportedly confessed.
He was called to the scene after reports of a robbery. Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, was stabbed to death in central Rome in the early hours of Friday morning.
Italian media initially said the murder suspects were North African. He had been called to the scene after reports of a robbery.
Police have named the detained men as Christian Gabriel Natale Hjorth and Elder Finnegan Lee.
Officers found a large knife hidden in the false ceiling of their hotel room.
In the immediate aftermath, Italian media had said police were looking for North Africans, which sparked anti-immigrant rhetoric online.
Far-right interior minister, Matteo Salvini, initially tweeted that the perpetrators should get "hard labour for life".
He has since said that though he would not go as far as the US death penalty, whoever committed the crime should get a life sentence.
What happened?What happened?
The young men were allegedly in the Trastevere area trying to buy drugs. The young men were allegedly in the Trastevere area, near to Vatican City, trying to buy drugs.
They are said to have stolen a rucksack from an alleged drug dealer who had sold them fake product, according to Italian news agency Ansa.They are said to have stolen a rucksack from an alleged drug dealer who had sold them fake product, according to Italian news agency Ansa.
They reportedly offered to bring it back to him, if he paid them $100 (£80; €111). They reportedly offered to bring it back to him, if he paid them $100 (£124; €111) and gave them a gram of cocaine.
As they waited, they were approached by Rega and a colleague as part of a plain-clothed operation because the police had been tipped off about the bag exchange, Ansa reported.As they waited, they were approached by Rega and a colleague as part of a plain-clothed operation because the police had been tipped off about the bag exchange, Ansa reported.
A brawl ensued, during which Rega was stabbed multiple times. He was taken to hospital but died of his injuries. A brawl ensued, during which Rega was stabbed several times. He was taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries.
The two Americans were picked up at a hotel by police on Friday morning.
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Who was the victim?Who was the victim?
Vice-Brigadier Rega had been married only 43 days and had returned from his honeymoon just this week.Vice-Brigadier Rega had been married only 43 days and had returned from his honeymoon just this week.
"Mario was a lovely lad," Sandro Ottaviani, commander of Rome's Piazza Farnese Carabinieri station, was quoted as saying by Ansa."Mario was a lovely lad," Sandro Ottaviani, commander of Rome's Piazza Farnese Carabinieri station, was quoted as saying by Ansa.
"He never held back at work and he was a figurehead for the whole district. He always helped everyone. He did voluntary work, accompanying sick people to Lourdes and Loreto. Every Tuesday he went to Termini train station to feed the needy.""He never held back at work and he was a figurehead for the whole district. He always helped everyone. He did voluntary work, accompanying sick people to Lourdes and Loreto. Every Tuesday he went to Termini train station to feed the needy."
His funeral will be held on Monday, in the same church in which he was married.His funeral will be held on Monday, in the same church in which he was married.
The killing shocked Italy and prompted tributes from across the country.
On social media pages, the Carabinieri paid tribute to Mario Cerciello Rega's "unconditional and brave dedication", and said his loss would be felt by his 110,000 fellow Carabinieri officers.