Posted on 08/10/2006 2:45:03 PM PDT by Republicain
The mayor of Naples has apologised to a US tourist who was beaten up by local residents shortly after he was mugged. The tourist, Matthew Godfrey, 25, from Utah, was attacked, after trying to pursue two men who stole his camera and fled on a scooter.
Instead of helping him, a group of bystanders punched and kicked him, allowing the muggers to escape.
The mayor, Rosa Russo Jervolino, said the action of the locals in protecting the muggers tarnished the city's name.
The police took Mr Godfrey to hospital where he was treated and released and subsequently left Naples.
The police have arrested the two suspected thieves, acting on Mr Godfrey's description of them, and are trying to identify the people who took part in the assault.
In her apology, the mayor said the attack was "inexcusable" and had given Naples an "uncivilised image".
The head of the local council also condemned the behaviour of the local residents and offered Mr Godfrey a personal tour of the southern Italian city.
"I have officially invited Matthew, who in the meantime has left to continue his travels, to return to Naples soon to eat a pizza together," Leonardo Impegno said in a statement, quoted by Reuters news agency.
I hate to say it, because I love most of her people... but Old Europe is lost .
LLS
Your 33 deserves its own thread.
We had great fun in Italy twice. I suggest inside pockets, money belt. Woman to not have a purse. Maybe small back pack carried in front papoose style. There's a lot to see in Italy.
At the very least, leave most of your cash and credit cards in your hotel safe when you're out and about, and don't carry any valuable stuff like iPods, expensive cameras, flashy jewelry, etc.
Hmm.
To all you sailors out there: Do you think he was near The Castle?
At least he apologized...how many tourists get robbed, mugged, raped and killed in our Country? I wouldn't be so smug if I were you.
Right. I'll remember that. While I tell my friends to stay away from Naples.
I guess we're lucky that George Washington appears to have been sterile. Maybe this says something about the two countries. Maybe not.
I see you live in California. I'd feel safer in Naples than in most parts of LA.
In other words, "See Naples and die."
Mark Twain said that one might not die just seeing Naples, but living there might bring on that condition. Sounds like things have changed since Twain's era.
Man if it looks like that picture, I'm really not interested in going.
You failed to mention , you are 6'3" & weight 245.
How can you tell if your time travel permit has expired?
The Oriana interview?
She has her own keyword :)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=oriana
I remember the Castle, though the last time I was in Naples was in 1985. Sorrento is much better, as well as Pompeii.
Well, I was there in the 70's, and The Castle was a place well known for...ahem...transvestites and...various types of sexual acts...
That was probably TMI...
It was pretty close by to fleet landing. Also remember "the Gut", it was off limits back then.
Having been to Naples in the last year, the criminals are generally not native Italians.
I've visited Naples hundreds of times.
Believe me or not, I've pounded the streets of that city at an excess, while bored of everything italian, while being drunk as the viking I am and whatever my elderly female realatives might've adviced me to do instead, I've slept in places like construction sites of that city and everything went well.
When I woke up, the first thing I saw were sprayed messages from napolitans to the milanese consisting in thoughtful sentence structures like "Milanesi, siete Merda!"
If you can't cope with cities, better start growing sprouts or anything likewise ridiculous.
Thank you! Come and see Italy again as soon as you can, because it is "on sale".. "last days"..! Come soon if you still want to see our Art as it was created, or you will be blinded by minarets skyline of the landscape. Dear, after the last elections here i hardly believe that Italy is still your friend, if i can say it bitterly. But i surely am :)
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