Police were forced to intervene
on Rome's roads yesterday as the funeral of mafia boss Vittorio
Casamonica caused traffic chaos in the capital, sources told
ANSA on Friday.
The first call into the municipal police came around 9.30am
when the funeral procession, which included a horse-drawn
carriage and tens of cars, began to block via Tuscolana.
A patrol squad was sent to the scene before reinforcements
were dispatched.
"In 30 years of service I have never seen something like
that," one police officer said.
"We intervened to make sure they (the procession) kept on
the right, to keep the traffic flowing. There was a risk of
complete chaos throughout that area of the city. We preventively
closed some roads and created diversions."
The funeral procession continued for several kilometres,
from the funeral parlour in Romanina to Cinecittà.
There had been suggestions that traffic wardens had been
posted to the area to make sure the funeral went smoothly,
rather than reacting to the chaos it caused.
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