GIULIANI AND GAGGIO v. ITALY JUDGMENT
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All those deployed had protective helmets, riot shields, batons, gas masks
and fire-resistant suits with protection for the most exposed parts of the
body. Each carabiniere had a pistol (pistola d'ordinanza) and numerous
tear-gas grenades had been issued to the detachments; there were also 100
armoured vehicles and 226 vehicles equipped with protective grilles, in
addition to the special vehicles (for instance, vehicles fitted with mobile
barriers to reinforce the fixed barriers protecting the red zone).
109. According to a memorandum from the senior command of the
carabinieri, an elite force (aliquota scelta) of 928 men had undergone a
programme of training in Velletri ahead of the G8 summit, covering both
theory (the psychology of crowds and opposition groups, public-order
techniques, handling emergencies) and practice (physical activity, use of
resources, materials and equipment, final exercise with debriefing). The
remaining troops had received three days' training in public-order
techniques. Forty-eight officers had taken part in an information seminar
covering topics such as the layout of the city of Genoa.
110. On 5 September 2001 the parliamentary commission heard
evidence from Mr Lauro, an officer of the Rome police who had taken part
in the public-order operations in Genoa (see paragraph 34 above).
111. Mr Lauro stated that the carabinieri had been equipped with throat
microphones, enabling them to communicate very rapidly with one another.
When asked to explain why the law-enforcement officers stationed quite
near to the jeep (fifteen to twenty metres away) had not intervened,
Mr Lauro replied that the men had been on duty since the morning and had
been involved in several clashes during the day. He added that he had not
noticed at the time of the events that there was a group of carabinieri and
police officers who could have intervened.
112. As to the function of the two jeeps, Mr Lauro explained that they
had brought fresh supplies at around 4 p.m. and had left and then returned
about an hour later to see if anyone was injured. Mr Lauro also said that he
had called an ambulance for Carlo Giuliani as no doctor was present at the
scene.
113. On 20 September 2001 the parliamentary commission submitted a
report setting out the conclusions of the majority of its members following
the inquiry. The document dealt with the organisation of the G8 in Genoa,
the political context and protest movements surrounding the summit and
similar events worldwide, and the numerous contacts which had taken place
between representatives of the institutions and associations making up the
Genoa Social Forum, with the aim of preventing public-order disturbances
and making arrangements to receive the demonstrators. Despite that
dialogue, the protest movement had not succeeded in isolating the violent
elements, numbering “around 10,000”; within the latter, a distinction had to
be made between the Black Bloc and “opportunistic” individuals who had
concealed themselves in the crowd.