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American citizens caught up in Italy policeman murder case Mario Cerciello Rega: Huge manhunt for killers of Italian policeman
(about 2 hours later)
Two American citizens have been arrested after a police officer was stabbed to death in the centre of Rome. A huge manhunt is under way for the killers of an Italian policeman stabbed to death in the centre of Rome while trying to make an arrest.
Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, was with a colleague when they confronted two suspected thieves in the Prati district in the early hours of Friday. Two men believed to be North Africans are being sought after Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, died confronting suspected thieves, Italian media report.
It is thought that a group of men had stolen a man's bag, before arranging to meet him and return it in exchange for €100 (£90; $111). The thieves are said to have stolen a bag, then arranged to meet and sell it back to the owner for €100 (£90; $111).
When two men turned up, they were met by the officers. Two Americans have been arrested in connection with the theft of the bag.
One of the men produced a knife and stabbed Cerciello Rega repeatedly before they fled. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has offered his condolences on Twitter, describing the dead officer as "a hero, a boy with all his life ahead".
The two arrested Americans are thought to be linked to the mugging, but not to the stabbing, Italian reports say. Earlier, he called for whoever killed the policeman to face "forced labour in prison for as long as he lives".
Hours after the death became known, Italian military police (Carabinieri) stopped their cars outside the force's general headquarters and sounded their sirens in tribute to the officer.
What do we know about what happened?
On Thursday evening, an Italian man, 40, was sitting in a city square, Piazza Mastai, when his bag containing €100 and a mobile phone was stolen, Il Corriere della Sera reports.
Two men were apparently later caught on CCTV running away with the bag but others may also have been involved.
After the owner called his own phone, the gang offered to sell the bag back to him in another part of the city, the Prati district. The owner then alerted the police.
The suspected thieves were waiting in the early hours of Friday for the owner to turn up when, instead, Vice-Brigadier Rega and a colleague appeared.
One of the suspects produced a knife and stabbed the policeman eight times, including once in the heart, before they fled, Ansa news agency reports.
The police officer was taken to hospital but died of his injuries.
Four people are being questioned at a Carabiniere barracks in connection with the case, Ansa adds.
The two Americans being investigated over the theft of the bag were picked up at a hotel by police on Friday morning.
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Cerciello Rega was a vice brigadier in Italy's paramilitary Carabinieri police force. He had been married only 43 days and had returned from his honeymoon only this week. Who was the victim?
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.
"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.The killing shocked Italy and prompted tributes from across the country.
Hours after his death became known, Italian state police stopped their cars outside the general headquarters of the Carabinieri and sounded their sirens in tribute to the officer. 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.
On its social media pages, the Carabinieri paid tribute to Cerciello Rega's "unconditional and brave dedication", and said his loss would be felt by 110,000 of his fellow Carabinieri officers.
Flowers have also been left at the Carabinieri station in Rome's Piazza Fornese.Flowers have also been left at the Carabinieri station in Rome's Piazza Fornese.
Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini also offered his condolences on Twitter, describing the officer as "a hero, a boy with all his life ahead".
Mr Salvini had earlier called for the attacker to face "forced labour in prison for as long as he lives".