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| Wanted mafia boss Domenico Rancadore arrested in London | Wanted mafia boss Domenico Rancadore arrested in London |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A mafia boss wanted in Italy since the 1990s has been arrested in London but may be released because of "significant deficiencies" with his arrest warrant. | |
| Domenico Rancadore, 64, was wanted over his links with Cosa Nostra. | Domenico Rancadore, 64, was wanted over his links with Cosa Nostra. |
| He was the head of a crime family involved in extortion, racketeering and drug trafficking, Italian police said. | He was the head of a crime family involved in extortion, racketeering and drug trafficking, Italian police said. |
| But the judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court said there were concerns over the warrant's validity. He will be in court again on Friday. | But the judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court said there were concerns over the warrant's validity. He will be in court again on Friday. |
| The Metropolitan Police arrested Rancadore on Wednesday evening at a residential address in Manor Waye, Uxbridge, under a European Arrest Warrant issued in January 2012. | |
| But in court on Thursday afternoon District Judge Quentin Purdy said: "The warrant may be such it has to be discharged." | But in court on Thursday afternoon District Judge Quentin Purdy said: "The warrant may be such it has to be discharged." |
| Defending, Euan Macmillan said there were "significant deficiencies" with the document. | Defending, Euan Macmillan said there were "significant deficiencies" with the document. |
| Rancadore has been remanded in custody until a hearing on Friday afternoon when the judge will decide if he can be released on bail. | |
| 'Most dangerous fugitive' | |
| The court heard how the Italian came to the UK in 1993, after being acquitted at the end of a three-year court case over Mafia allegations. | The court heard how the Italian came to the UK in 1993, after being acquitted at the end of a three-year court case over Mafia allegations. |
| But in a second trial in 1999, the former teacher was convicted in his absence of being part of a criminal organisation between 1987 to 1995. He was sentenced to seven years in jail. | |
| Mr Macmillan said Rancadore had lived "a blameless life" in Britain. | |
| The Italian Interior Ministry said he had run a travel agency in London and had led a comfortable life. | The Italian Interior Ministry said he had run a travel agency in London and had led a comfortable life. |
| In a statement, it said: "Several co-operating witnesses have referred to him as a leading member of the Palermo Mafia 'family', with a senior managerial role in the Caccamo 'commandment'. | In a statement, it said: "Several co-operating witnesses have referred to him as a leading member of the Palermo Mafia 'family', with a senior managerial role in the Caccamo 'commandment'. |
| "In particular, in the 1990s, he played the role of chief of the Cosa Nostra in Trabia, Palermo. | "In particular, in the 1990s, he played the role of chief of the Cosa Nostra in Trabia, Palermo. |
| "The operation is the result of the important relationship of international police co-operation ensured through Interpol." | "The operation is the result of the important relationship of international police co-operation ensured through Interpol." |
| Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, Angelino Alfano, said he was "pleased" one of the "most dangerous fugitives" had been arrested. | |
| "I'm grateful to the Italian police for its indefatigable search for fugitives, but also to the English detectives who had received the information from the Italian police and intervened. | |
| "Another important mobster was taken into custody and will go to jail.'' | |
| 'Swear it's all wrong' | |
| Joan Hills, a 76-year-old neighbour, who lives in Manor Waye, said she knew Mr Rancadore as Marc Skinner and his family had lived in the road for several years. | |
| "I know him very well and he's one of the best neighbours you could ever have," she said. | "I know him very well and he's one of the best neighbours you could ever have," she said. |
| "They have been here for years. I've seen the children grow up with my children. I don't know the ins and outs of this, but they are the nicest people that you could wish to meet." | "They have been here for years. I've seen the children grow up with my children. I don't know the ins and outs of this, but they are the nicest people that you could wish to meet." |
| One neighbour told BBC London that she knew the Italian and he was a very good neighbour. | |
| She said: "I swear it's all wrong. If you ever met him, you'd never think what they're saying about him was true." | |
| Tennis coach Terry Stidder, 53, who lives two doors down from Rancadore, said the family moved in about 13 years ago. | |
| He said Rancadore had argued with a neighbour when he planted some hedges. | |
| Mr Stidder said Rancadore had told the neighbour: "Sorry, but I've got to have this." | |
| He added: "We always thought he was a chauffeur because he had such nice cars and he would always go out dressed very nicely. | |
| "He was always very well dressed. Most of the time he would be in a very sharp suit, which, if you think about it, that is your typical Mafioso type." |