Centre-right leader Silvio
Berlusconi called for the expulsion of thousands of migrants
after a racist sooting that shocked Italy at the weekend.
Luca Traini, a 28-year-old militant for the anti-migrant
league, shot and wounded six migrants in a drive-by shooting
spree in the Marche city Macerata days after the discovery there
of the body of an 18-year-old Italian woman allegedly killed and
dismembered by a Nigerian immigrant.
"600,000 migrants are a social bomb that risks exploding,"
said Berlusconi, echoing League leader Matteo Salvini who said
"those who fill us with migrants instigate violence" like
Traini's.
Salvini's critics have accused him with his incessant
anti-migrant invective of "morally arming" Traini, who is now
being held in the same jail as Innocent Oseghale, the alleged
drug pusher who allegedly killed recovering drug addict Pamela
Mastropietro before stuffing her hacked-up body into two
suitcases and dumping them near Macerata.
Berlusconi said Monday Traini's action was "madness".
The three-time ex-premier and media magnate said "it's
something incomprehensible: only an unbalanced person could do
something like that, I don't see anything political because
politics doesn't lead to these follies".
It is a good idea to scrub the term 'race' from the Italian
Constitution, Berlusconi went on.
"Italians are not racists, we are hospitable," he said on
Italian TV.
"There is not a general climate of hatred but some people who
are out of their heads, like the gentleman in Macerata, who
wallow in this atmosphere".
Article 3 of the Constitution says all citizens are equal
without distinction of gender, race, language, religion,
political opinions and personal and social conditions.
Centre-right Lombardy governor candidate Attilio Fontana, of
the League, recently defended himself in a row over his
assertion that Italy's "white race is at risk" due to
migration, saying that "the Italian Constitution itself speaks
about race".
Meanwhile Salvini said Monday being described as a "bad
teacher" for allegedly fomenting Traini's racist hatred "recalls
the (Red Brigades) BR".
"I'm getting a lot of insults," said Salvini.
"I would be careful about using such words (as bad teachers).
"Evoking that period is not intelligent, it's better
to comment with your head than your mouth".
Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI) President Cardinal
Gualtiero Bassetti said Monday "we must say no to xenophobia,
social rancour and the 'entrepreneurs of fear'" amid migrant
fears.
"We must unite Italy, 'reknit' our communities," said the CEI
chief.
"In the name of God we invoke sobriety, peace and dialogue",
he said.
A copy of Mein Kampf as well as far-right insignia were found
at Traini's home.
He has reportedly confessed to the shooting "in revenge" for
Mastropietro's murder.
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