Tunisia museum attack suspect claims innocence

Milan, May 23 (IANS/AKI) The Moroccan man wanted by Tunisia over the March 18 Bardo Museum attack in Tunis, Abdelmajid Touil, told an extradition hearing in Italy on Friday that he was innocent.

"I've been in Italy since I arrived in February," Touil told the judge at his first hearing in Milan's San Vittore prison.

He was arrested earlier this week near Milan on a warrant issued by Tunisia on suspicion of involvement in the attack on the Bardo Museum that killed 21 tourists and a policeman and injured over 50 people.

Prosecutors said the Tunisian warrant accused him of helping plot and execute the attack.

Touil told the extradition judge that he came to Italy to join his family and refused to be handed over to the Tunisian authorities, his lawyer Silvia Fiorentino told reporters.

His denial of consent may complicate the extradition procedure as Italy does not extradite people to countries with the death penalty.

Touil, who arrived in Italy on February 17 with a boatload of rescued migrants, claims he does not understand why he is in prison, Fiorentino said.

"He is very afraid and strained, as I would be had I been accused of international terrorism," she said.

Tunisia has 40 days to supply Milan prosecutors with documentation and the extradition request, which the prosecutors have three months to examine, Fiorentino said. She said she hoped Touil would be released meanwhile.

Touil's Italian teacher has told prosecutors he attended his twice weekly lessons the days before and after the Bardo attack and Touil's mother alleges he was at home on the day of the attack.

National police chief Alessandro Pansa said the warrant was executed "correctly" and that "no restrictive measures would be taken if there was no evidence of guilt".

Rome prosecutors have also opened an investigation into Touil as four Italians died in the Bardo museum attack.

--IANS/AKI

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