(ANSA) - Catania, April 10 - A Catania mafia clan was planning to kill journalist Paolo Borrometi to stop his probes into their affairs, a judge said Tuesday. Borrometi, director of the Spia.it website, was described as an "awkward journalist," preliminary investigations judge Giuliana Sammartino said in a warrant that led to the arrest of four people for a dynamite attack on the car of lawyer Adriana Quattropani.

The Cappello clan was planning to kill Borrometi at the request of Siracusa boss Salvatore Giuliano, Sammartino wrote in the ordinance.

Borrometi has been living under police escort since receiving mafia death threats.

Giuliano was caught on a police wiretap in January asking for Borrometi to be murdered, sources said.

In response, Capello clan member Giuseppe Vizzini was caught on another wiretap on February 20 saying in Sicilian dialect that the journalist "hasn't got long to live".

Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni spoke to the journalist on Tuesday afternoon, voicing solidarity and support with Borrometi.

He said the State was close to him in the daily fight against the mafia and for freedom of information.

</s>Paolo Borrometi has been living under police protection for four years. Photo: Paolo Borrometi/Facebook

The Sicilian mafia sought to have a journalist killed for his reporting on their activities, investigators said on Tuesday.

While investigating a different assassination attempt, police wiretaps caught members of the Cappello clan, based in Pachino in the deep south of Sicily, discussing plans to murder Paolo Borrometi, editor of anti-mafia investigative website LaSpia.it.

The Cappello boss, Salvatore Giuliano, was first recorded telling his one of his henchmen that Borrometi should be killed in early January, according to the investigating judge's account. Six weeks later, the same henchman was heard to say that the journalist "doesn't have long left".

"We have to get that one," Giuseppe Vizzini told one of his sons. "Bang, on the ground."

READ ALSO: Nearly 200 journalists in Italy are under police protection

In the same conversation, in which he outlined plans for a group of mafiosi to unleash "hell" on Borrometi, Vizzini went on to remark that "you need a body" every so often "to calm everybody down".

Investigators believe the clan was about to organize a violent attack "to eliminate the troublesome journalist", the judge wrote.

It's not the first time that the Cappello clan has attempted to intimidate Borrometi, who has been under police protection for the past four years.

In February a judge ordered Guiliano and his son Gabriele to stand trial for repeatedly threatening the journalist, who has already been to court six times over threats related to his work. The first hearing is scheduled for November.

Meanwhile Vizzini and two of his sons, Simone and Andrea, were arrested on Tuesday in connection with a separate car bombing that targeted a lawyer involved in seizing the assets of a bankrupt company run by Vizzini's wife.

Borrometi has met previous threats with defiance. Last month he addressed his attackers on Facebook, telling them: "Against your threats, our smiles! ... People's smiles will wipe you out for good."

As the latest threats became public, several politicians, as well as media outlets and journalist unions, expressed their solidarity.

"My support and a hug to Paolo Borrometi, victim once more of mafia threats," said Justice Minister Andrea Orlando. "We all owe a lot to those who every day bravely report on the mafia."

Nearly 200 journalists in Italy receive some form of police protection, including 19 who are escorted round the clock.

In February, a reporter in Slovakia was killed along with his partner as he prepared to publish an investigation that alleged high-level ties between members of the Slovak government and the Italian mafia.

Police subsequently arrested several Italian suspects named in his report but released all except one of them, who was arrested on separate drug charges.

READ ALSO: Five ways to fight the Italian mafia</s>Catania, April 10 - A Catania mafia clan was planning to kill journalist Paolo Borrometi to stop his probes into their affairs, a judge said Tuesday. Borrometi, director of the Spia.it website, was described as an "awkward journalist," preliminary investigations judge Giuliana Sammartino said in a warrant that led to the arrest of four people for a dynamite attack on the car of lawyer Adriana Quattropani. The Cappello clan was planning to kill Borrometi at the request of Siracusa boss Salvatore Giuliano, Sammartino wrote in the ordinance. Borrometi has been living under police escort since receiving mafia death threats.</s>Catania, April 10 - A Catania mafia clan was planning to kill journalist Paolo Borrometi to stop his probes into their affairs, a judge said Tuesday. Borrometi, director of the Spia.it website, was described as an "awkward journalist," preliminary investigations judge Giuliana Sammartino said in a warrant that led to the arrest of four people for a dynamite attack on the car of lawyer Adriana Quattropani. The Cappello clan was planning to kill Borrometi at the request of Siracusa boss Salvatore Giuliano, Sammartino wrote in the ordinance. Borrometi has been living under police escort since receiving mafia death threats. Giuliano was caught on a police wiretap in January asking for Borrometi to be murdered, sources said. In response, Capello clan member Giuseppe Vizzini was caught on another wiretap on February 20 saying in Sicilian dialect that the journalist "hasn't got long to live".</s>Oct 8, 1934 – Apr 8, 2018

We are sad to announce the passing of long-time Kelowna resident Paolo Antonio Liscia.

born on October 8, 1934, in Oscurus di Buie d’Istria, Italy, and passed away on April 8, 2018.

He is survived by his former wife Jacqueline, his daughter, Maria, and his sons, Peter (Laura), and John (Karen, Gaylene). Also survived by his three grandchildren, Chelsea Liscia, Adriana Liscia, and Ty Liscia.

Paolo was predeceased by his parents, Pietro and Caterina Lisjak, brother, Giovanni Lisjak, and great-niece, Valentina Roar.

Paolo is survived by family in Italy and Croatia: sister-inlaw, Angela Vorich; nieces, Mirella Lisjak and Loredana (Roman) Ur¡i; great-nephews, Andrea Roar, Robert (Nata¡a) Ur¡i (daughter Elen); and great-niece, Sabina (Milan) Ur¡i. Paolo is survived by many Italian friends throughout Canada.

Paolo came to Canada from Italy in 1957. He started work at the SM Simpson Sawmill (now Tolko) in 1964 and was employed there until his retirement in 1995. Paolo enjoyed making wine, maintaining a large vegetable garden, playing bocce and going for long walks. Paolo was a long time member of the Canadian Italian Club.

Information regarding a celebration of life will be released at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club in Paolo’s name.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.everdenrust.com.

 Everden Rust Funeral Services</s>Catania, April 10 - A Catania mafia clan was planning to kill journalist Paolo Borrometi to stop his probes into their affairs, a judge said Tuesday. Borrometi, director of the Spia.it website, was described as an "awkward journalist," preliminary investigations judge Giuliana Sammartino said in a warrant that led to the arrest of four people for a dynamite attack on the car of lawyer Adriana Quattropani. The Cappello clan was planning to kill Borrometi at the request of Siracusa boss Salvatore Giuliano, Sammartino wrote in the ordinance. Borrometi has been living under police escort since receiving mafia death threats. Giuliano was caught on a police wiretap in January asking for Borrometi to be murdered, sources said. In response, Capello clan linked businessman Giuseppe Vizzini was caught on another wiretap on February 20 saying in Sicilian dialect that the journalist "hasn't got long to live". Vizzini was arrested for ordering a bomb to be put in the car of a bankruptcy judge who was about to impound a service area at Pachino near Catania. Vizzini and boss Giuliano "shared a common criminal purpose," said the preliminary investigations judge. The boss was jealous of his reputation and was caught on a wiretap saying "have him killed, what the f*** do you care?".</s>ROME (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron heaped praise on Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in Rome on Thursday, less than two months before national elections in Italy that opinion polls say the ruling center-left government will lose.

Macron told reporters at the end of a two-day visit to Rome that he had no intention of interfering in the Italian ballot, which is set for March 4. But his comments left little doubt over where his sympathies lay.

 "It is up to Italians to decide how to vote, but let me say that Europe has been very lucky to have Gentiloni and I hope we can continue the work that we have started," he told a news conference, standing alongside the Italian leader.

 Gentiloni's Democratic Party (PD) is trailing in the opinion polls to both the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and a center-right bloc that includes the far-right Northern League party and the nationalist Brothers of Italy.

 All the main opposition parties are seen as hostile to Brussels to various degrees and all are seeking significant changes to EU budget rules. The League is also pushing for Italy to quit the euro currency, although its partners reject this.

 Macron took power in France in May promoting a fiercely pro-EU agenda. On Thursday he again stressed the importance of a united and purposeful Europe.

 "Can I say that the European Union is positive for Italy, and can I also say that an Italy which believes in Europe is positive for Europe," Macron said.

 The ruling PD, which is led by former prime minister Matteo Renzi, has often clashed with Brussels over budget rigors, but at the same time, it has championed ever-closer integration.

 Looking to strengthen Franco-Italian ties, Macron and Gentiloni unveiled a new treaty on Thursday which they said would provide a strong framework for relations between the second- and third-largest economies in the euro zone.

 "We have always worked together in an extraordinary way, but we are convinced that this will make our relations even stronger and more systematic," Gentiloni said.

 

 (Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
An Italian judge says a mafia clan has been plotting the murder of Spia.it journalist Paolo Borrometi. Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni voices his support to the journalist.