• Silvia Romano, Mattarella: "Welcome back, great joy for the Italians"
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  • Prosecutor of Rome: Silvia Romano is "a political hostage" in the hands of a Somali Islamic group
  • Kenya, Silvia Romano brought to Somalia after the kidnapping
  • Kenya. New postponement of the trial of the three kidnappers by Silvia Romano
  • Kenya, a witness speaks: "They wanted a flash ransom. But Silvia had no money and they kidnapped her"

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10 May 2020The flight to Silvia Romano, the Milanese co-worker kidnapped almost 18 months ago in Kenya, is expected at Ciampino at 2pm. In the afternoon, investigators will listen to her at the Ros barracks. The investigative act will be conducted in the afternoon by prosecutor Sergio Colaiocco, who had opened an investigation into the kidnapping of a person for the purpose of terrorism, in the presence of the counter-terrorism officers of the Special Operational Group of the Arm who carried out the investigations.

"I was strong and I resisted", these are Silvia's first words after the liberation. "I'm fine and can't wait to go back to Italy". The announcement of the release comes from Prime Minister Conte, with a tweet.

The Milanese cooperative of the non-profit organization "Africa Milele" was kidnapped on November 20, 2018 in Kenya, in the village of Chakama, 80 kilometers from Malindi. According to what was reconstructed by the Prosecutor of Rome and by the Carabinieri del Ros, she was held captive in Somalia by men close to the Al-Shabaab jihadist group, the Somali organization affiliated to Al Qaeda and considered "political hostage". 

Conte: protecting the lives of our compatriots government priorities
"We are truly happy for Silvia Romano and his family". Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister, says it in an interview with the 'Corriere della Sera'. Silvia Romano's release was the work "of our intelligence services - says Conte - in particular of our external agency, of the investigative work of the judicial authority, of the constant attention of Minister Di Maio and of the Farnesina and of Minister Guerini and of Defense Protecting the lives of our compatriots is a priority for the government ".  

Sereni, there was cooperation with 007 Turks
"There was a cooperation with the Turkish services present in that area which was instrumental in identifying the place and acting at the right time. In these situations, the final objective is very important which is the release of the prisoner. Silvia Romano is one of the best examples of our Europe, a girl with strong values, a desire to do good and to be close to those who have less ". Deputy Foreign Minister Marina Sereni said that from Omnibus microphones on La7, she reassured about the girl's condition: "Minister Di Maio spoke to her and got the impression that she is in good health, the same says our Ambassador in Mogadishu. The girl has been strong all this time, let her return to her family now, surely this year and a half has tried it but she also had the strength to resist ".

Di Maio, he's fine and can't wait to hug the family 
"Yesterday was an intense and important day. When our external intelligence services called us to give us the news of Silvia Romano's release, we all tried an indescribable joy. First of all those who had been involved in the case for a year and a half, starting from the Farnesina Crisis Unit, which I thank. In a few moments I thought back to all the times that I had promised to Silvia Romano's father everything possible to bring her daughter back to Italy. And yesterday we succeeded. Today, at about 2.00 pm, we will be in Ciampino to welcome her. I spoke to her on the phone for a few minutes: she is well and can't wait to see her family again. For Silvia it has been 18 months of great suffering. For her family it has been 18 months of pain. I want to thank women and men of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who in these 18 months have always supported the family. Sometimes simply icemente with a word of comfort, because in dark moments like these nobody should be alone ". Luigi Di Maio, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, writes it on Facebook.




The father: a bursting happiness
 "Now I just need to think, to reason, until I see it it doesn't seem true to me, it's a delicate moment". Enzo Romano, the father of Silvia Romano, said it on the phone. "Happiness is so great that it bursts - he added - I don't care about anyone else, only to hug my daughter after 17 months". 

"Party" in the Milanese neighborhood where he lives
The news of Silvia Romana's release was celebrated in the neighborhood, the Casoretto, on the eastern outskirts of Milan, where the girl lives with her mother. From the balconies and windows of his condominium and from the adjacent houses, dozens and dozens of people appeared and the music started: some songs dear to the girl and then the national anthem sung by all present. Someone stopped in the street under the door but without any particular gathering. 

Mattarella: welcome back. Great Italian joy 
"The news of Silvia Romano's release is a source of great joy for all Italians," says Sergio Mattarella. "I send a greeting of affectionate solidarity to Silvia and her family members, who have endured so many months of anguished waiting," continues the President of the Republic, in a statement issued by the Quirinale. "I would like to express gratitude and congratulations to the men of the state who have worked constantly, with determination and patience, amidst so many difficulties, for his release. Welcome back, Silvia!", Says Mattarella again.