Two United States students have alleged that they were raped by Italian policeman who escorted them from a nightclub, leading to an investigation by Florence prosecutors on Friday.
Italian authorities said the students, both 21, were questioned for hours the day before in the case the the US State Department is said to be taking very seriously.
The women accused Carabinieri policemen who escorted them home of raping them early Thursday morning in their apartment building.
Two American students, both 21, alleged that they were raped by Carabeinieri police when they escorted them home from a club in Florence, Italy on Thursday
Three police cars went to Flo nightclub to investigate a fight, where one them stayed behind and supposedly took the girls home
The officers, members of paramilitary police, are waiting to be questioned.
Three patrol cars went to Flo nightclub to investigate a fight, according to Italian media as reported by the New York Post.
After the issue was eased, two of the cars left while the last took the girls home and allegedly raped them.
News report stated that witnesses confirmed that they saw the two women enter the patrol car with the officers.
News report stated that witnesses confirmed that they saw the two women enter the patrol car with the officers
An official from the State Department said they were aware of the allegations and were taking the matter seriously.
The US Embassy in Rome said in an email: ‘Due to the sensitive nature of this case and to protect the privacy of those involved, we have no further comment.’
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the US consul general in Florence met with Florence’s police chief Friday morning to talk about the case for about an hour.
The women had been said to be in Florence for several months studying Italian at an school in the area.
The officers, members of paramilitary police, are waiting to be questioned
Florence has become a popular tourist destination for lots of Americans and offers plenty of study abroad opportunities for students in the States.
In January 2016, American woman Ashley Olsen was killed in her flat sparking lots of media attention.
A court in Florence convicted a Senegalese man of murdering the woman and sentenced him to 30 years in prison, later that year.
The 35-year-old had been strangled and suffered skull fractures.
Witnesses had said they’d seen the woman and her attacker meet at a Florence nightclub mere hours before she was murdered.