HomeTop StoriesItaly arrests top Libyan police officer for alleged war crimes

Italy arrests top Libyan police officer for alleged war crimes

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The head of Libya’s judicial police has been arrested after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant on war crimes charges, media reports said.

Osama Najim, who heads the Mitiga detention center in Tripoli, was reportedly arrested on Sunday in the Italian city of Turin.

Former detainees from various centers have described abuses such as routine torture and rape. In 2022, the UN said it had found evidence of “serious rights violations”.

Mr Najim was arrested at a hotel after a tip-off from the international police organization Interpol, Italian newspaper la Repubblica reported.

Italian charity Mediterranea Saving Humans said the arrest came after a “difficult” ICC investigation involving “years of complaints and testimonies from victims”.

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An ICC spokesperson did not immediately respond to the BBC’s questions.

Mediterranea Saving Humans also criticized Italy’s long-standing, controversial deal under which Italy trains and funds the coast guard to intercept migrant boats.

As part of this agreement, Libya is expected to help reduce the number of migrants passing through the country and arriving in Italy.

At the time Najim was arrested, he was with other Libyan citizens and planned to go to a stadium, Attorney General Lucia Musti told la Repubblica.

Mr Najim’s case has reportedly been forwarded to the Justice Ministry and the appeals court in Rome.

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[Getty Images/BBC]

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