Italy: An American wanted fugitive was arrested in St. Peter’s Square
Italian police arrested one of the most wanted runaways of the United States, who carried three concealed knives, in the crowded St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, a judicial source said today.
The fugitive has been taken into custody. This is Moises Teyada, who is described as “violent” by the investigative unit of the New York Correctional Service. He is also on the list of the most wanted persons in this State.
The arrest, which was first reported by the newspaper La Repubblica, was confirmed by the police. Tejada aroused the suspicions of the police who stopped him for a check and found knives with 20 cm blades on him.
St. Peter’s Square was filled with pilgrims and tourists as Pope Francis received the people in audience that day, Wednesday, April 10. It is unclear whether Tejada, who has been convicted of robbery and kidnapping, posed a threat to the pontiff.
Authorities found that he had recently arrived in Rome from Moldova, having previously been in Ukraine for some time. He told the police that he went to Ukraine in 2022 and was fighting against the Russians.
The Italian authorities are now waiting for their American counterparts to submit a request for his extradition.
Source: APE-MPE, Reuters
