The person was turned back by the Swiss guard on Thursday for lack of access and returned “at high speed, forcing two checkpoints”. He held back before being arrested.
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 05/18/2023 at 11:26 PM, updated 05/18/2023 at 11:40 PM
This content is not accessible to all.
Swiss Guards near St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP
An unbalanced man drove his car into the Vatican on Thursday evening, May 18, before being arrested, the Holy See press service said.
Just after 20:00 (18:00 GMT), a motorist arrived at one of the entrances to the Vatican and, after being turned back by the Swiss Guard for not having access clearance, “returned at high speed, forcing the two of them.” “. Checkpoints,” according to the same source. An inspector from the Vatican Gendarmerie shot the car’s tires but was unable to stop it. Due to an alarm, other entrances to the Vatican were closed.
This content is not accessible to all.
The car eventually stopped in Vatican City, “and the man got out on his own and was subdued by the gendarmerie,” according to the same source. “He immediately underwent a medical examination (…) which revealed a serious psychophysical change” in the driver. The latter, whose identity has not been clarified, is being held in a Vatican cell and is available to the judicial authorities, the statement said.