ITALY: WOUNDED SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE BOMBING ON AN ITALIAN MILITARY BASE IN IRAQ ARRIVE BACK AT A MILITARY HOSPITAL IN ROME

Record ID: 358549

  • Title: ITALY: WOUNDED SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE BOMBING ON AN ITALIAN MILITARY BASE IN IRAQ ARRIVE BACK AT A MILITARY HOSPITAL IN ROME
  • Date: 14th November 2003
  • Summary: (EU)ROME, ITALY (NOVEMBER 14, 2003) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) 1. VARIOUS PLANE CARRYING ITALIANS INJURED IN NASSIRIYA SUICIDE BOMBING ARRIVING (5 SHOTS) 0.21 2. VIEWS OF MILITARY AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL GATHERED TO GREET INJURED 0.29 3. VIEWS OF INJURED GETTING OFF PLANE AND INTO WAITING BUSES (3 SHOTS) 1.09 4. VIEWS OF INJUR
  • Embargoed: 29th November 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA2VWT1CN986UB4OZI9I1JPJU8Q
  • Story Text: Wounded survivors of Italy's worst military disaster since
    World War Two have arrived in Rome from Iraq.


    A huge C-130 transport plane carrying some 20
    Italians wounded in the suicide bombing in Nassiriya in
    southern Iraq landed in Rome on Friday (November 14)
    evening.

    Ambulances and cars were lined up on the tarmac waiting
    to take the wounded to the Celio military hospital in
    central Rome, where most of them were to be reunited with
    the families.

    Most of the wounded were either Carabinieri military
    police or army troops. One was an Italian civilian. A few
    of the wounded made the flight from Iraq in stretchers.

    At Celio military hospital, medical and military
    officials awaited the arrival of the wounded by ambulance.

    Family members, some carrying young babies in their
    arms, rushed through the hospital gates desperate to see
    their loved ones for themselves.

    "All my thoughts at the moment are just for my son
    Aureliano, as for the general situation (in Iraq) there
    will be alot to say but now is not the time," said the
    anxious father of injured Aureliano Amadei who had been
    working with a documentary producer who was killed in the
    attack.

    The injured were hurt in the suicide bombing of a
    Carabinieri base in Nassiriya, Iraq, on Wednesday (November
    12), which caused the deaths of 16 Italian soldiers, two
    Italian civilians and nine Iraqis. It was Italy's worst
    military slaughter since World War Two.

    Most of the wounded in the attack were either
    Carabinieri military police or army troops. One was an
    Italian civilian documentary film maker.

    "Our soldiers, our injured boys, are overwhelmingly sad
    for their collegeaues who died, this is their greatest
    sorrow," said Army General Romeo Toni outside the hospital.

    "They are happy to be alive but at the same time they
    have all shown a wish to return as soon as possible to Iraq
    because they are sure this is their duty," Toni said with
    conviction.

    All of the injured will overnight at the hospital but
    some are expected to take part in the solemn ceremony at
    Rome's Ciampino airport on Saturday (November 15)
    afternoon, which will welcome back the coffins of their
    fallen comrades. A state funeral will be held on Tuesday
    (November 18).


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register