Beating Victim Gets Apology
The mayor of this southern Italian city has apologized to a U.S. tourist beaten by a group of residents as he chased two thieves.
The Utah tourist tried to pursue the thieves who snatched his camera. Instead of helping the victim, a group of bystanders grabbed him and beat him up, Naples police said Wednesday.
“In the turmoil, the tourist was seriously kicked and punched while the two fled,” the police said. Two suspects in the theft were later arrested.
The head of the city council condemned the incident and said he wanted to apologize personally to the tourist, identified as Matthew Godfrey.
He offered a personal guided tour of the city.
“I have officially invited Matthew, who in the meantime has left to continue his travels, to return to Naples soon to eat a pizza together,” Leonardo Impegno said in a statement.
Mayor Rosa Russo Iervolino said the residents’ protection of the criminals darkened the city’s name.
She was quoted as saying in Corriere della Sera newspaper, “To the American tourist, I say sorry, of course I do.”
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