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| Nazi war criminal Erich Priebke's hearse kicked by protesters in Italy | Nazi war criminal Erich Priebke's hearse kicked by protesters in Italy |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Protesters kicked and punched a hearse carrying the body of the unrepentant Nazi war criminal Erich Pribke on Tuesday as it entered the church of an ultra-conservative Catholic sect that offered to hold his funeral. | |
| Priebke, a former SS captain who died in Rome aged 100 last Friday while serving a life sentence for his role in the massacre of 335 Italians in 1944, had been denied a church funeral in the Italian capital by the Catholic Church despite protests from his lawyer and family. | Priebke, a former SS captain who died in Rome aged 100 last Friday while serving a life sentence for his role in the massacre of 335 Italians in 1944, had been denied a church funeral in the Italian capital by the Catholic Church despite protests from his lawyer and family. |
| But on Tuesday the Society of Saint Pius X, which has split from the Vatican over its opposition to the modernisation of Catholic doctrine and its outreach to Jews, offered Priebke a funeral at its church in Albano Laziale, close to Rome. | But on Tuesday the Society of Saint Pius X, which has split from the Vatican over its opposition to the modernisation of Catholic doctrine and its outreach to Jews, offered Priebke a funeral at its church in Albano Laziale, close to Rome. |
| The group gained notoriety in 2009 when a British member, Richard Williamson, denied the Holocaust had taken place, claiming: "I believe there were no gas chambers." | The group gained notoriety in 2009 when a British member, Richard Williamson, denied the Holocaust had taken place, claiming: "I believe there were no gas chambers." |
| As the hearse containing Priebke's remains tried to enter the church on Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by a police escort, protesters kicked it, yelled "Assassin" and tried to attack a priest. Riot police separated the crowd from a small group of rightwing extremists, some hooded, who gave the fascist salute. | |
| "There will be a mass in Latin, behind closed doors, only for close friends and relatives," said Priebke's lawyer, Paolo Giachini. | "There will be a mass in Latin, behind closed doors, only for close friends and relatives," said Priebke's lawyer, Paolo Giachini. |
| Local mayor Nicola Marini had tried to ban the coffin from entering Albano Laziale for the funeral, which fell on the 70th anniversary of the Nazi round up of Jews in Rome, but he was overruled by the local government prefect. | Local mayor Nicola Marini had tried to ban the coffin from entering Albano Laziale for the funeral, which fell on the 70th anniversary of the Nazi round up of Jews in Rome, but he was overruled by the local government prefect. |
| After living in Argentina for 50 years after the war, Priebke was given a life sentence in Italy in 1998 for his role in the 1944 massacre at the Ardeatine caves in Rome, a reprisal for the killing of 33 German soldiers by resistance fighters. | After living in Argentina for 50 years after the war, Priebke was given a life sentence in Italy in 1998 for his role in the 1944 massacre at the Ardeatine caves in Rome, a reprisal for the killing of 33 German soldiers by resistance fighters. |
| Given house arrest with permission to attend church, he outraged Jewish Romans who would bump into him as he walked in a city park. Priebke admitted no guilt, insisting he had been following orders and, just before his death, claimed the Holocaust was an invention. | Given house arrest with permission to attend church, he outraged Jewish Romans who would bump into him as he walked in a city park. Priebke admitted no guilt, insisting he had been following orders and, just before his death, claimed the Holocaust was an invention. |
| After the Vatican denied him a funeral in Rome, the capital's mayor also ruled out a burial for Priebke in the capital. Argentina's foreign minister also said Priebke could not be buried in Argentina, while a spokesman for the council of Priebke's hometown, Hennigsdorf in Germany said: "We don't have to bury Priebke in Hennigsdorf and we will not do it." | After the Vatican denied him a funeral in Rome, the capital's mayor also ruled out a burial for Priebke in the capital. Argentina's foreign minister also said Priebke could not be buried in Argentina, while a spokesman for the council of Priebke's hometown, Hennigsdorf in Germany said: "We don't have to bury Priebke in Hennigsdorf and we will not do it." |
| Marini, the mayor of Albano Laziale, said a burial there was also out of the question. | Marini, the mayor of Albano Laziale, said a burial there was also out of the question. |
| Cremation was the best solution, said Riccardo Pacifici, the president of Rome's Jewish community. "Spreading his ashes, like they did to Adolf Eichmann, would stop his grave becoming a pilgrimage destination," he said. | Cremation was the best solution, said Riccardo Pacifici, the president of Rome's Jewish community. "Spreading his ashes, like they did to Adolf Eichmann, would stop his grave becoming a pilgrimage destination," he said. |
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