A woman in her early twenties, who is part of an Irish group attending anti-globalisation protests in Genoa, has been charged with possession of a deadly weapon by Italian police, it emerged today.
|
She was one of two members of the group detained on Tuesday after a Swiss Army knife was discovered in her bag during a search.
A member of her party, Ms Amanda Moloney from Limerick, told ireland.comthat the arrested woman was strip-searched and kept naked in her cell for seven-and-a-half hours. The second person detained, a man in his mid-twenties, was released without charge.
If called, the charged woman will be required to attend a court hearing in three years time.
Thousands of people from all over the world have been gatheringthroughout the week in Genoa to protest at the G8 summit which beginstomorrow.
Following riots and violence at summits in Seattle, Nice and lastmonth in Gothenburg, 20,000 members of the security forces have beendeployed in the North Italian city.
Areas for protestors to camp – including a football stadium - havebeen set aside by Genovese authorities but allegations of heavy- handed policing tactics are beginning to emerge.
"Police come in and arrest people in the middle of the night. Thereare helicopters shining spotlights, constantly flying overhead,especially at night," Ms Moloney said. "I think they are trying tokeep people awake," she added.
Meanwhile the main group of Irish protesters, Globalise ResistanceIreland, are due to arrive in Genoa tomorrow morning. Many of thegroup travelled via England but were delayed in Callais this morningand searched by French customs officials.
The train due to bring the protestors to Italy was cancelled and thenre-instated following protests by prominent academics and others.
A letter signed by American academic, Mr Noam Chomsky; Frenchpolitician, Mr Alain Crevin; film director, Ken Loach; and actressSusan George among others, was handed to the French Train companySNCF and the French government.The group were further delayed by what Mr Richard Boyd-Barrett ofGlobal Resistance Ireland described as over-intensive searches byFrench customs officials.
"Sniffer dogs were used, all our bags were searched and our all ourpassports were taken and photocopied," said Mr Boyd-Barrett. "We weredelayed of several hours, while everyone else passed through withjust a check at passport control," he added.