Thieves suspected to be anarchists stole a baby Jesus from a Turin square nativity scene at the weekend and have demanded a comrade's release from house arrest for the replica infant's return.
In a message addressed to La Repubblica daily, the kidnappers wrote: "Silvano freed immediately, or Jesus dies."
The message was accompanied by a photograph showing the baby Jesus and Sunday papers which reported the kidnapping. It was not signed but is believed to refer to the case of Silvano Pelissero.
Pelissero, a Turin anarchist currently under house arrest, was arrested in March for his suspected participation in attacks on a high-speed train project.
The baby Jesus, part of a nativity scene at Carlo Felice Square near the Porta Nuova train station, has been replaced by a copy.
