A tense Monday unfolded near Milan’s notorious “drug forest” as a 28-year-old man was fatally shot by police after allegedly brandishing what was later determined to be a replica firearm. The incident,which occurred around 6 p.m. in the Rogoredo district’s Via Impastato, has ignited a political firestorm and prompted calls for transparency.
According to initial reports, plainclothes officers were conducting a drug enforcement operation when the man, a Moroccan national with a prior record for drug dealing and resisting law enforcement, approached as thay were detaining a suspected drug trafficker. He allegedly pointed a gun at the officers, prompting one to open fire, striking him in the upper body.
Paramedics arriving on the scene could only confirm the man’s death. Forensic investigators and a medical examiner were dispatched to gather evidence. The investigation is being led by public prosecutor Giovanni Tarzia, with direct oversight from prosecutor Marcello Viola.Authorities are meticulously reconstructing the events, a process sure to draw comparisons to similar incidents abroad.
Political Fallout and Calls for Transparency
Italy’s Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi, acknowledged the preliminary nature of the facts.”The initial reports naturally have a margin for approximation,” he stated. “I have no reason to presume the legitimacy or proportionality of the intervention, but we are not granting anyone immunity. The competent authorities will now assess the case. I only ask that we avoid presumptions of guilt. I assure you there will be no cover-ups. We will calmly assess the sequence of events.”
The death has quickly fueled political debate. Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the League, voiced staunch support for the police officer involved.”I stand with the police officer, without ifs or buts,” he commented. The League released a statement expressing solidarity with law enforcement and advocating for increased security measures to protect officers.
Riccardo De Corato, a member of parliament for Brothers of Italy and former Deputy Mayor of Milan, criticized the city’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, for his handling of security issues. “From thefts and assaults to shootings in broad daylight. This is what happens in the city of the mayor-councilor for Security, Sala, once again absent. It has never been seen in recent years that a mayor decides to keep for himself, for so many months, the vital and strategic delegation to security.”
Cautious Reactions from the Center-Left
Leaders on the center-left expressed more measured responses. Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star movement, stated, “I will not comment on the individual episode. However, regarding the general climate of security, the government says everything is fine, despite the increased numbers of rapes, robberies, and various acts of violence.”
The security debate in Milan is further intricate by reports of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agents preparing to deploy to the city ahead of the Winter Olympics. Sources at the U.S. Embassy in Rome indicated that the agency will support the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service. Concerns are rising that tensions could escalate, reminiscent of the aftermath of the death of Ramy Elgaml, a 19-year-old Egyptian man who died on November 24 following a pursuit by Carabinieri officers.
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