Italian Police Arrests 'Most Wanted' US Fugitive Carrying Concealed Knives Near Vatican's St. Peter's Square

Italian police arrested one of the United States' most wanted fugitives, Moises Tejada, in St. Peter's Square near the Vatican last week. Tejada, 54, was found carrying three concealed knives, each about 20 cm (8 inches) long, while Pope Francis was holding a general audience in the crowded square.

Tejada has convictions for robbery and kidnapping and is classified as "violent" by the Office of Special Investigations in New York. He had recently arrived in Rome from Moldova, having previously spent time in Ukraine, where he claimed to have been fighting against the Russian invasion.

The arrest occurred on April 10th, with Italian police apprehending Tejada without initially being aware of his identity. However, they used their intuition to stop and search the wanted man. The arrest was first reported by Italy's la Repubblica newspaper and confirmed by a judicial source.

Why this matters: The capture of a high-profile US fugitive in a heavily populated area near the Vatican raises concerns about security measures and international cooperation in apprehending dangerous criminals. It also highlights the global reach of law enforcement efforts to bring wanted individuals to justice.

According to the New York Department of Corrections, Tejada had been released on parole in March 2022 but failed to report to his parole officer, leading to a warrant for his arrest. The Italian authorities are now waiting to hear if their US counterparts want to extradite Tejada. The US Marshals Service is working on extradition procedures to bring Tejada back to the United States to face charges.

Key Takeaways

• Italian police arrested US fugitive Moises Tejada in St. Peter's Square.
• Tejada, 54, had convictions for robbery and kidnapping, classified as "violent".
• Tejada was found carrying 3 concealed knives as Pope Francis held a general audience.
• Tejada had recently arrived in Rome from Moldova, claiming to have fought in Ukraine.
• US authorities are working on extraditing Tejada to face charges in the US.