On 23 September, a man entered the historic Church of San Rocco in the Castellone district of Formia and allegedly caused extensive damage to the interior of the building. He reportedly used a chair to damage the altar and knock down statues of saints, before also damaging a Marian votive shrine nearby. During his arrest, several police officers were reportedly injured. While the parish priest was reportedly calm following the incident, it has nonetheless shaken the community of Castellone.
According to reports, an incident occurred on 23 September, where a man entered the Church of San Rocco and used a chair from the nave to strike the altar, knocking several statues of saints to the ground. Witnesses reported hearing him shouting phrases in Arabic, apparently directed against Christianity, though this remains to be confirmed. The Pallottine nuns, who have responsibility for the church, called the police after the alarm was raised by local residents, who could hear the suspect shouting.
After leaving the church, the man allegedly went to nearby Via del Castello, where he damaged a small votive shrine depicting the Virgin Mary. Police officers from the Formia Commissariat subsequently intervened. During the attempt to restrain him, three officers reportedly required medical treatment. Reports state that the man's resistance continued after he was taken to police premises.
Reports identified him as a Moroccan national in his early thirties who was legally resident in Italy. The parish priest urged the public not to generalise the national origin of the perpetrator, pointing out that many Moroccans were well integrated in the society.
UPDATE: A report from 31 October states that the man, a 31-year-old Moroccan national was repatriated to his country of origin, and subsequent analysis of his electronic devices revealed evidence of Islamic radicalisation, the report states.
Sources: latinaoggi
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