Rome: two young Americans arrested for killing a carabinero

ROME.-
Two young American tourists were arrested after being accused of killing an undercover carabinero in central Rome. Mario Raga Cerciello, 35, was stabbed Friday morning in a wealthy neighborhood near the Vatican. He had just returned from his honeymoon in Madagascar.

According to a police statement released Saturday morning,
The suspects are two Americans of 18 and 19, identified as Gabriel Christian Natale Hjorth and Lee Elder Finnegan, who had to return home the same evening. For his part, the head of government, Luigi Di Maio, denounced a "despicable act against the state", whose authors will "pay the fine in their country".

The young people were arrested in a luxury hotel where they were staying. The weapon of crime, a knife "of significant dimensions", was found concealed in the double ceiling of his room. They also confiscated the clothes that they wore the night of the murder.

According to the statement, both made a statement Friday night and confessed to stealing an Italian backpack and claimed 100 euros and a gram of cocaine to return it. It was during this badault that the Italian warned the security forces and when the police tried to stop them, one of them took out the knife.

Local media quoted investigators and said the victim of the robbery was a man that both tourists accused of selling aspirin powder instead of cocaine. According to this version, the one who confessed to killing the rifleman ensured that he was not aware of having to deal with police and that he was scared because he was thinking about to be a friend of the drug dealer.

The Americans were arrested for aggravated homicide and attempted extortion, charges that will have to be validated by a judge. The agent will be buried Monday in his home town, at the foot of Vesuvius, in the presence of many state officials.

Salvini's reaction

Guest on a TV show, interior minister and government man Matteo Salvini, a far-right party, promised that the suspects, filmed with surveillance cameras, would be immediately arrested.

"Apparently, they are not Italian, what a surprise! Italian Internet users spoke in the same tone, including in part of the political clbad, while the media described suspects as Maghreb.

American help

US authorities will provide badistance to the two compatriots accused of the murder. The State Department is aware of the situation and will offer appropriate badistance.

Through embbadies and consulates, this agency can help to contact lawyers who speak English, communicate with families, ensure that adequate medical badistance is provided and provide general guidance on local court systems.

The State Department website states: "We are ready to help incarcerated citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international and foreign laws."

Lee Elder Finnegan and Gabriel Christian Natale Hjorth, both Californian and on vacation in Rome, were arrested on suspicion of attempted extortion and murder of a carabinero.

AFP and ANSA agencies