The Catania police
commissioner has banned two organizing committees from
participating in religious processions after some of their
members performed a traditional public salute to a Sicilian
Mafia family on Thursday, ANSA sources said.
Plainclothes police officers observed participants carrying
two elaborate statues of St. Barbara in a religious procession
in the town of Paterno' as they stopped at the home of the son
of an incarcerated Mafia boss from the Santapaola clan and swung
the statues back and forth in a traditional homage to the
family.
They completed the gesture with a ritual kiss to
demonstrate fealty, police said.
"The incident is a clear show of intimidation typical of
Mafia power," said Police Commissioner Marcello Cardona.
"It gave rise to conduct that is prejudicial to maintaining
public safety and order".
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