May 17, 2012
Published: 10 Jun 2011 11:03 GMT+1
Updated: 10 Jun 2011 10:55 GMT+1
Online: http://www.thelocal.ch/310/20110610/
Italian MEP Mario Borghezio was reportedly given a bloody nose on Thursday as he attempted to sneak into the secretive Bilderberg conference in St. Moritz.
Borghezio, of right-wing Italian party Lega Nord, was reportedly with another Italian as he attempted to infiltrate the luxury Suvretta House hotel where the conference is taking place.
Borghezio was blocked by guards from the security firm Securitas, who then called in the Swiss police. After having their identities checked, the two Italians were told they could not enter the building.
But according to the Italian news agency ANSA, Borghezio's nose was bloodied during the altercation with the security guards. He told the agency he intends to press charges.
Swiss police spokesman Thomas Hobi said, "We don't comment on the work of private security firms," before adding that the police was not at liberty to even confirm the identities of the two men, because of data protection laws.
In a separate incident, two Swiss men were detained near the conference because "several suspicious items" were found in their car.
Hobi said that "for tactical reasons," the police did not want to give any more information on the objects, but it is understood they initially suspected explosives. A security cordon was set up around the car while forensic specialists investigated the objects.
The items in the car were eventually judged to be harmless, though both men have been turned over to state police.
The annual Bilderberg meeting, which gathers over 100 of the world's political and economic leaders, are usually secured by a tight police presence.
On what has been claimed as the official website – which is impossible to verify as it gives no contact information – the group is described as "a small, flexible, informal and off-the-record international forum in which different viewpoints can be expressed and mutual understanding enhanced."
The Local/AFP/bk
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Ernst Bromeis, the Swiss swimmer who set out to swim the length of the Rhine, has given up his quest after about 400 kilometres due to health concerns.
READ »
COMMENT »
A centuries-old diamond passed down through generations of European royalty fetched nine million francs ($9.7 million) at auction in Geneva on Tuesday. READ »
The Swiss tourist trade is continuing to suffer the ill effects of a far-right politician's claim there are too many Germans in Switzerland.
READ (3 comments) »
COMMENT »
Double Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt will race in the Zurich leg of the Diamond League on August 30th, organizers announced on Monday.
READ »
COMMENT »
A 33-year-old Kosovar man who seriously injured his wife and her mother in a shooting incident last week died from self-inflicted injuries, and not from a shot fired by his wife's brother, according to media reports.
READ »
COMMENT »
A British lawyer has been charged and a Swiss lawyer is wanted for questioning by the US tax authorities for allegedly helping a well-known American family to hide unpaid taxes in Swiss bank accounts.
READ »
COMMENT »
Forget the Swiss army knife, Swiss soldiers will soon be issued with the latest in two-wheel technology -- brand new bicycles to keep the men fit on mountain roads.
READ »
COMMENT »
Former White House hopeful Michele Bachmann said on Thursday she has decided to withdraw from having Swiss nationality as well as a US passport, because, she proclaimed: "I am a proud American citizen."
READ (2 comments) »
COMMENT »
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UKForex Currency Converter |
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.