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Nazi criminal funeral halted due to protests Nazi war criminal Priebke's funeral halted amid protests
(about 2 hours later)
The funeral service for a Nazi war criminal in Italy has been called off after protesters surrounded his hearse. The funeral service for Nazi war criminal Erich Priebke in Italy has been called off amid angry protests.
More than 500 people shouted "murderer" and "executioner", and clashed with Nazi sympathisers, as Erich Priebke's coffin passed. More than 500 people in the city of Albano Laziale shouted "murderer" and "executioner", and clashed with Nazi sympathisers, as his coffin passed.
The former German SS officer was jailed for life in 1998, over the killing of more than 300 civilians in 1944. The former German SS officer, who was jailed for life in 1998 over the killing of more than 300 civilians, died under house arrest last week.
He died while under house arrest last week, aged 100, and had never apologised for his actions. His death led to fierce debate over what to do with his body.
Since his death, there has been fierce debate over what to do with his remains. That question remains after the funeral was suspended on Tuesday evening.
The Vatican issued an unprecedented ban on holding the funeral in any Catholic church in Rome. The exact reason for halt in the ceremony is unclear, although Priebke's lawyer, Paolo Giachini, said it had been stopped because the authorities had prevented friends and family entering.
The agency quoted Mr Giachini as saying that the funeral was "a moment of mourning" that had nothing to do with politics.
Priebke was one of the SS officers present during the killing of men and boys at Rome's Ardeatine Caves in 1944, in a reprisal attack ordered by Adolf Hitler for the killing of 33 German soldiers in Rome by resistance fighters.
He died aged 100 and had never apologised for his actions.
The Vatican had issued an unprecedented ban on holding the funeral in any Catholic church in Rome.
Argentina, where Preibke lived for nearly 50 years before being extradited to Italy, has refused to take the body.Argentina, where Preibke lived for nearly 50 years before being extradited to Italy, has refused to take the body.
But the Society of St Pius X - a Catholic splinter group often accused of having far-right and anti-Semitic leanings - offered to hold the ceremony.But the Society of St Pius X - a Catholic splinter group often accused of having far-right and anti-Semitic leanings - offered to hold the ceremony.
Don Floriano Abrahamowicz, a St Pius X priest, told Italy's Radio 24: "Priebke was a friend of mine, a Christian, a faithful soldier."Don Floriano Abrahamowicz, a St Pius X priest, told Italy's Radio 24: "Priebke was a friend of mine, a Christian, a faithful soldier."
'Take him to the landfill''Take him to the landfill'
On the way to the funeral, angry demonstrators gathered to jeer at and hit the hearse. Angry demonstrators who had gathered in Albano Laziale jeered at and hit the hearse carrying Priebke's coffin as it made its way to the funeral.
"Take him to the landfill!" one man shouted, according to the French news agency AFP."Take him to the landfill!" one man shouted, according to the French news agency AFP.
According to Italian media, the coffin was taken into the seminary of the Society of St Pius X, and the service had already begun when protesters broke into the compound.According to Italian media, the coffin was taken into the seminary of the Society of St Pius X, and the service had already begun when protesters broke into the compound.
The funeral was then quickly suspended by police. It is unclear whether the body remained in the seminary overnight or was moved to a different location.
Priebke was one of the SS officers present during the killing of men and boys at Rome's Ardeatine Caves in 1944, in a reprisal attack ordered by Adolf Hitler for the killing of 33 German soldiers in Rome by resistance fighters.
After World War II, Priebke lived in the Argentine Andean resort of Bariloche, before his identity was unveiled in 1994.After World War II, Priebke lived in the Argentine Andean resort of Bariloche, before his identity was unveiled in 1994.
He was then extradited to Italy and jailed - but because of his age and poor health he was allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest in Rome.He was then extradited to Italy and jailed - but because of his age and poor health he was allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest in Rome.