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‘Migrants are invaders, shoot them like we did to the Red Brigades’ – Italy MPs
Senior officials within Italy’s Northern League party – a key ally to Silvio Berlusconi’s government – have controversially suggested the "use of force” against migrant boats “invading territorial waters".
The shocking statements were made by deputy minister Roberto Castelli and MEP Francesco Speroni, who during two separate radio debates insisted that “migrant boats must be repelled and Italy stands its ground to defend its national interests.”
Castelli stressed that “Italy must be prepared to take all necessary measures to fight back the boats.
“What if they have guns, what do you think we should do? Stand still and do nothing? We should respond with adequate force, just like we did with the Red Brigades” Castelli said.
Meanwhile, MEP Francesco Speroni stressed that the use of force against migrant boats would be “perfectly legitimate” as a measure of defence against “invaders.”
“If the Tunisians shoot at our fishing boats for slightly veering into their territorial waters, then who are we not to shoot at the migrant boats leaving Tunisia. No migrant has the word ‘migrant’ written on his forehead...if they come from Malta or Canada, would they still be asylum-seekers?” Speroni said on Radio24.
