Italian police arrest 34 people in 'bone-breaking' scam

Italian police have arrested 34 people allegedly involved in a "bone-breaking" medical insurance scam in Palermo, Sicily.

The perpetrators allegedly broke people's limbs and staged road accidents in exchange for part of their insurance payout.

The scam was first uncovered when one individual died after being beaten, police say.

Eleven people were arrested over similar activity last August.

Italy country profile

Police said the organised criminal enterprise had focused on drug addicts, alcoholics, the mentally ill, and others "on the margins of society" in financial need.

More than 50 people were allegedly taken to "rooms of horror" in apartments or warehouses.

The victims were anaesthetised with drugs and had their limbs held on blocks of stone or cement, which were hit with bags of weights or large rocks.

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Fake car accidents were later staged in areas of the city not covered by CCTV cameras, and gang members would take the victims to hospital, posing as relatives.

In another case, the group staged a fake accident on a ferry from Palermo to Genoa, with the victim alleging he had fallen down the ship's stairs, Italian media say.

The victims were allegedly paid hundreds of euros under the scheme, despite their insurance claims being worth thousands.

Among those arrested are doctors and physiotherapists who allegedly filed false medical reports, and a lawyer who filed the insurance claims.

Local media report that the scheme brought in more than €2m (£1.7m; $2.26) a year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47938738

Whether you are french or not, whether you believe in God or not, to see Notre Dame burning is like seeing your own house burning.

Angel Mom Mary Ann Mendoza

⭐️

‏ @mamendoza480

Replying to @ArtAcevedo

My son is DEAD. Tens of thousands of Americans are DEAD at the hands of ILLEGAL ALIEN CRIMINALS!!! Her mother can go back with her, hold her, talk to her….but face the consequences for breaking our laws! At least they are all alive!

3:29 PM - 15 Apr 2019

https://twitter.com/mamendoza480/status/1117917769838653440

BREAKING: ON FRIDAY Female Jihadi Jailed Over Attempted Car Bombing Outside Notre Dame Cathedral

On Friday Islamic terrorists Inez Madani was jailed for eight years for her attempted car bombing outside of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Madani was wounded with a knife in the belly of a police officer during the arrest in 2016.

On Friday she was jailed for eight years in the attempted attack.

The Journal.ie reported:

ONE OF THREE women allegedly involved in a foiled plot in 2016 to blow up a car packed with gas canisters near the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris was today sentenced to eight years in prison by a French court for earlier offences.

Ines Madani, 22, was sentenced following a three-day trial during which she was accused of encouraging would-be jihadists to go to Syria and participate in attacks against France between March 2015 and June 2016.

She used Telegram – an encrypted messaging app widely used by jihadists to communicate.

Judge Isabelle Prevost-Desprez said that Madani was “recruited” by Oumar Diaw, also known as Abou Barrou, an influential jihadist of the Islamic State group.

She used different pseudonyms on social networks, pretending for example to be Abu Souleymane, a jihadist returned from Raqa to carry out attacks in France.

“You had some autonomy in the management of your personality…. Your determination marks your dangerousness,” Prevost-Desprez said.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/04/breaking-on-friday-female-jihadi-jailed-over-attempted-car-bombing-outside-notre-dame-cathedral/

Donald Trump warns citizens about travelling to Nigeria, 34 other countries ==

The US Department of State has cautioned its citizens to “reconsider travel to Nigeria because violent crime, such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, rape and piracy, is common throughout the country.”

In a travel advisory published on its website, which contains information on the safety and security of US travellers, Nigeria was listed among 35 countries with a ‘K’ indicator, that indicates where its citizens could be at risk of getting kidnapped or taken hostage.

“The new ‘K’ indicator is part of our ongoing commitment to provide clear and comprehensive travel safety information to U.S. citizens so they can make informed travel decisions.

“The Travel Advisories for 35 countries have been updated to include a “K” indicator for the risk of kidnapping and/or hostage taking: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russian Federation, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine (in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine), Venezuela, and Yemen,” the department said.

While Nigeria was placed on level 3, the US Department of State issued a level 4 travel alert for Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

“The security situation in northeast Nigeria is fluid and unpredictable, particularly in Borno and Yobe States and northern Adamawa State.

“Terrorist groups based in the Northeast target churches, schools, mosques, government installations, educational institutions, and entertainment venues. Approximately two million of Nigerians have been displaced as a result of the violence in northeast Nigeria,” the department said.

The 35 countries were placed in four levels of travel with respect to their safety and security risk: Exercise normal precautions, Exercise increased caution, Reconsider travel and Do not travel.

https://www.thebreakingtimes.com/donald-trump-warns-citizens-about-travelling-to-nigeria-34-other-countries/ …