25/06/2009 / ITALY
I don't know if all the people who blame the onlookers have any idea what it means to find oneself in the middle of eight people who suddenly open fire. How brave would they be then, would they rush to help an unknown person who for all they know may have been the target of the attack, and may be targeted again? It has nothing to do with racist reactions. Who could have know he was just a poor Roma and not a dangerous gang member like the killers themselves? Do you have any idea of the terror those who live in mafia-controlled neighbourhoods live with? Then get off your high horses!!
"Go die elsewhere, I've got a train to catch"
He was 33, he was a Roma gypsy, and he played the organ in Naples's metro. He was shot dead on May 27, caught in mafia crossfire. The scene, caught on several security cameras, shocked many Italians: while one man died at their feet, onlookers continued to pass the metro turnstiles.
Our Observer Alberto Celani alerted us on this story.
Petru Birladenu was apparently in the wrong place at the wrong time. That day, eight members of the Sarno di Ponticelli clan, one of Naples's Camorra families, drove down a street in the Spanish quarter, the city's most dangerous neighbourhood, riding motorcycles and armed with machine guns. They opened fire as they drove past the Monsanto metro station, shooting wildly.
Some believe that the Sarno clan's intention was to mark its territory after Mariano, the boss of a rival Camorra clan, began trying to regain control of the Spanish quarter when he was released from prison.
Other Italian media explained, after studying the video in detail, that Mariano himself was probably in the area and may have been the target of the attack. The roma musician and his wife were heading towards the metro when the shots erupted. Shot in the arm, Petru tried to take cover in the metro before collapsing in front of the turnstiles. Onlookers hurried past him without a second glance. Italian Web users discuss the incident on this website: some believe that no one reacted because the victim was a gypsy. Others are irritated what they see as unfair finger-pointing:
I don't know if all the people who blame the onlookers have any idea what it means to find oneself in the middle of eight people who suddenly open fire. How brave would they be then, would they rush to help an unknown person who for all they know may have been the target of the attack, and may be targeted again? It has nothing to do with racist reactions. Who could have know he was just a poor Roma and not a dangerous gang member like the killers themselves? Do you have any idea of the terror those who live in mafia-controlled neighbourhoods live with? Then get off your high horses!!Contributors
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Pure disgust
Submitted by Unregistered user on Tue, 21/07/2009 - 13:42.Having viewed the footage of this barbaric act, I too am shocked at the disgusting behaviour of the people who just passed by, except for one or two. It is truely a sad reflection on italian society. Then again, I only have to look at the behaviour of their football teams and goverments, which explains alot. I traveled to Lake Garda two years ago and found it's people to bad mannered and ignorant.The polish contribution, is a sad man or women, who requires a lesson in humanity.
Unregistered user
I'm disappointed by this
Submitted by chrisVIII (not verified) on Thu, 09/07/2009 - 14:02.I'm disappointed by this article and by several that have recently been posted on the "observers". the articles are getting more and more "reactionnaires" and do not inform... It looks like they are posted to create a pointless polemique... exactly the side of French media that I dislike: pointless, endless polémique, bwah !
Unregistered user
Always the same
Submitted by Wonderer (not verified) on Thu, 02/07/2009 - 14:06.Same thing happened before, where the 2 Roma girls drowning and people still sunbathing. It seems that the Italian become careless and heartless nation or just in the South?.
Unregistered user
Read Gomorra
Submitted by Unregistered user from Poland (not verified) on Mon, 29/06/2009 - 22:48.This was an obvious reaction for everyone that live in Neapol. Whoever lives there knows - if the boy or girl was hit, that means he was guilty (it's not important if the choice was made for him to die or he was just in wrong place and time). Wars (there were many!) between clans were, are and will be cruel...
People on the train station run becouse if they would help him it would mean "death sentence" for them from one of the clans. Don't judge them so quickly! I know of heroes who literally shit there pants in front of the enemy and soldiers who left there rifle... so don't expect all the people who were there to be as brave as heroes! If you are, good for you and all your friends.
By the way. Wars are fought there for decades (centuries?) and Italy knows it, Europe knows it... SO NOW YOU ARE SURPRISED OF WHAT HAVE HAPPENED?!?!
Unregistered user
ITALIA
Submitted by vafancuolo ITALIA (not verified) on Mon, 29/06/2009 - 19:43.I've been living in italy many years and i consider that italians people are very strange . They only think about themselfs .. after 10 years of my life im Rome Italy i can only say that all of them are Thiefs it's very selfish,oaf, slouch nation , when something bad happends they just run or they blame someone else for it. I can't write anything positive about them as a nation as people because i didint saw that.What more can i say im lucky that my jurney with italy ended ...
Unregistered user
lived in Italy for 10 years
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 09/07/2009 - 16:34.lived in Italy for 10 years and he can't even write Italian - "vafancuolo" is written incorrectly - I've always found Italians generous and caring
Unregistered user
everyone know that italians
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 29/06/2009 - 14:15.everyone know that italians are biggest racists in the world
Unregistered user
He was 33, he was a Roma
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 25/06/2009 - 22:48.He was 33, he was a Roma gypsy, and he played the organ in Naples's metro. He was shot dead on May 27, caught in mafia crossfire. The scene, caught on several security cameras, shocked many Italians: while one man died at their feet, onlookers continued to pass the metro turnstiles
LIES thats not what the video shows AT ALL !
Unregistered user
Shocking, still.
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 29/06/2009 - 11:46.OK.... well I doo people passing by though, which is the main thing...
No matter what people say about it, it is utterly shocking to see people running away from that scene.
Unregistered user
I guess you would just stand
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 29/06/2009 - 12:25.I guess you would just stand there and allow yourself to be shot at? theyre running because they want to live,not because they dont care.
Unregistered user
I only had bad experience in
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 02/07/2009 - 22:13.I only had bad experience in my dealing with italian people
I have nothing positive to say regarding the italians
This videos is strikingly a geniune picture of their attitude towards foreigners.
The country still firmly believes that they are at the top of the civilised world and that the whole planet should follow their example menawhile their public finances are in a very bad shape and their dificit is sweeling at an alarming rate.
The country still lives in the shadow of their glory days and they dont realize that the price for arrogance will drive away potential investor and tourists alike.
This videos shows the value that the italian gives to human life.
even animals have mercy between each other, but no not the itlaians.
if you want an advice : DONT GO TO ITALY EVEN AS A TOURIST, BECAUSE THERE'S GOOD CHANCE THAT YOU'LL NEVER COME BACK.
Unregistered user