Italian Officials Face Trial Over Migrant Shipwreck

Italian prosecutors have notified six police and coastguard officers that they may face trial for negligence and multiple manslaughter related to a migrant shipwreck near Cutro that resulted in at least 94 deaths in February 2023. This decision has sparked outrage from Italy's right-wing government, which defends the officers as dedicated individuals who risk their lives daily. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi expressed confidence in their eventual exoneration, while Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini criticized the legal action as unjust. The tragedy involved a wooden sailboat that capsized after leaving Turkey, highlighting ongoing issues with migrant smuggling and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. Two smugglers have already been convicted, and others are facing trial, amid intensified scrutiny on the officials involved in the rescue efforts. This incident has reignited discussions on Italy's handling of migration and the responsibilities of law enforcement in such crises.