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Rome Jewish Leader Detained After Auschwitz Visit

The president of the Jewish community of Rome and a well-known Italian journalist were detained overnight by Polish police after recording an interview at the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Roman Jewish Communal President Riccardo Pacifici and Italian journalist David Parenzo conducted the interview for an Italian television station Tuesday, following a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the camp’s liberation.

Left alone on the camp’s grounds, Pacifici and Parenzo attempted to leave Auschwitz at midnight via a side exit, according to Italian media. They were immediately detained by police and brought in for questioning.

They were released from police custody Wednesday morning following the intervention of the Italian embassy in Poland.

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