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THE gang-rape of a 13-year-old girl has sparked fury across Italy with the country’s deputy PM calling for the attackers to be chemically castrated.
The horrific attack allegedly happened in a public toilet in Catania in Sicily, with the teen’s helpless boyfriend being forced to watch.
Deputy PM Matteo Salvini called for the attackers to be chemically castrated[/caption]Seven Egyptian migrants have been arrested – four adults and three minors, aged between 15 to 19.
Investigators say that the victim and her boyfriend, 17, were attacked by the group while walking in Villa Bellini Park around 7.30 pm on January 30.
The crime has sent shockwaves across Italy with Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini demanding the chemical castration of the attackers.
At least two of the suspects allegedly raped the 13-year-old while her boyfriend was beaten and held down forced to watch – before the pair was able to flee to safety, il Giornale reports.
He stated: “Girl raped by a gang of seven Egyptians in front of her boyfriend, who was threatened, blocked and kept away.
“Don’t come and talk to me about ‘tolerance’ or ‘error.’
“In the face of horrors of this kind, there can be no clemency but only one cure: chemical castration.
“I’m counting on the proposal presented by the League to be voted on as soon as possible.”
While Annalisa Tardino , regional commissioner and MEP of the Salvini Premier League, added: “We remain firm in the idea that chemical castration is needed for rapists and pedophiles, life imprisonment for similar episodes, as well as greater security in our cities.
“For the foreigners repatriated immediately! In Egypt they would never have allowed such behaviour. The safety of our children must be a priority throughout Italy .”
And Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated: “It strikes me that on the day in which a very young martyr of the Christian tradition is celebrated [Sant’Agata], we should see another very young victim of sexual violence.”
“I want to say this to express my solidarity with her and her family. The State will be there and justice will be done,” she added during her visit to Catania.
Following the attack, the victim was able to identify two underage boys but not the other five as she stated: “I didn’t see their faces, I don’t want to accuse the innocent.”
In the face of horrors of this kind, there can be no clemency but only one cure: chemical castration
“Two grabbed me and others grabbed my boyfriend. And they took us to the bathrooms of the villa.
“It was a nightmare, there was no one there at that time,” she told La Repubblica.
“And they forced my boyfriend to watch too. He was screaming, he was desperate.
“I said: ‘I beg you, I beg you, don’t hurt me, let me go.”‘
The girl’s boyfriend identified the other five suspects.
One of the seven attempted to flee the city, but was caught by police, Ansa reported.
The investigation is ongoing and the suspects will soon appear at a hearing.