Italian journalist receives head-butt from mafia boss’ brother while reporting on the outcome of local elections in Ostia, Italy
ADVERTISEMENTDaniele Piervincenzi, a journalist for Rai TV was hit by Roberto Spada, the brother of a mafia boss, during an interview about the local elections in Ostia, a coastal town near Rome on Tuesday (November 7).
Spada head-butted Piervincenzi after the journalist asked him about his alleged support for the far-right extremist group, Casapound.
The following video shows the interaction between the two men before Piervincenzi was hit.
“I’m here because newspapers say that the Spada family supports the far-right party Casapound, says Piervincenzi, what do you think that Casapound can change in Ostia?”
Casapound is a fascist movement looking to enter into the Italian parliament. In Ostia’s local elections this past Sunday, the party collected nine percent of the total votes.
Spada, whose brother is currently serving a ten-year sentence for extortion, attacked the journalist with a head-butt that broke his nose and then chased him down the street with a stick.
The Spada brother was arrested on Thursday (November 9) after the attack was caught on camera. Spada is under investigation for “grievous bodily harm and private violence with the aggravating factor of acting in a mafia context,” said judicial sources according to ANSA. Spada denied the charges.
The attack was condemned by the deputy head of Casapound, Simone di Stefano, who told Ansa that the political party has no links with the Spada family.
Meanwhile, Piervincenzi said that a broken nose won’t stop his current investigation.
Journalist Roberto Saviano who has written about Napolitan mafia Gomorra said on Facebook that “Ostia has become mafia territory and is run by intimidation, extortion and money laundering: the fact that Casapound is associated with this place raises big suspicions.”