Man who rushed to Vatican City gate was sent for psychiatric treatment at a nearby hospital
The man who walked through one of the Vatican City gates was taken to a nearby hospital for psychiatric treatment
Journalists film the Santa Anna Gate at the Vatican, Thursday, May 18, 2023. A car driven by a person with apparent psychiatric problems rushed through the Santa Anna Gate on Thursday evening and overtook Swiss guards in a courtyard in the palace before the driver was apprehended by the police. . Vatican gendarmes fired a shot at the front tires of the speeding car after it rushed for the gate, but the vehicle managed to continue on its way, the Vatican press office said in a statement. statement Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY — The man who drove through a Vatican City gate and continued even after guards fired on his car was taken to a nearby hospital for psychiatric treatment on Friday after preliminary questioning, the Vatican said.
The man, who has not been identified by the Holy See, was taken to the Santo Spirito in Sassia psychiatric ward after spending the night in the Vatican police barracks.
According to the Holy See, the man rushed to the Santa Anna gate shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday, after Swiss guards initially refused him entry. He continued to accelerate after Vatican gendarmes at an interior checkpoint fired at his tires and eventually came to a stop in one of the courtyards of the Apostolic Palace. There, Vatican gendarmes arrested him, the Holy See statement said, adding that at the time he appeared to be in an agitated psychological state.
In an update Friday, the Vatican said the man, believed to be in his 40s, was questioned by a Vatican magistrate in the presence of a lawyer. Given his condition, “he was taken to the psychiatric ward (…) for compulsory treatment,” the statement said.
There was no word on his ultimate destination or motive, but the gendarmes closed the main inner door leading to the square in front of the hotel where Pope Francis lives. It is believed that the pope was at the Hotel Santa Marta at the time.
The incident was a rare foray into the city-state, much of which is off-limits to the general public, especially at night.
While visitors can access St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums during opening hours, and people with medical prescriptions can go to the Vatican Pharmacy, permission is required to enter d other buildings in the enclave.
ABC News
