BFF-70 Italy expels S.African who flew drone near Vatican

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Italy expels S.African who flew drone near Vatican

ROME, Sept 19, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A South African man has been ordered to
leave Italy after flying his drone near the Vatican, Italian police said on
Wednesday.

Police arrested the 25-year-old as he flew his drone over the main Via
della Conciliazione that leads towards Saint Peter’s Square where the pope
was leading Sunday prayers.

“He was given an order to leave the country and his drone and camera
confiscated,” Rome police said in a statement.

The South African embassy declined to comment his arrest and expulsion.

Under Rome’s strict security measures, it is illegal to overfly the city,
including with a drone.

Two French tourists flying a drone near the Colosseum last year were fined
around 3,000 euros ($3,500) and had their equipment confiscated and
destroyed, police said.

BSS/AFP/RY/1952 hrs