TURIN, Italy
The head of Libya's judicial police has been arrested after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant over war crimes allegations, media reports say.
Osama Najim, who directs
Tripoli's Mitiga detention centre, was reportedly arrested on Sunday in the
Italian city of Turin.
Former detainees from various
centres have described abuses, such as routine torture and rape. In 2022, the
UN said it had uncovered evidence of "serious rights violations".
Mr Najim was arrested in a
hotel following a tip from international police body Interpol, Italian
newspaper la Repubblica reported.
Italian migrant rescue charity
Mediterranea Saving Humans said the arrest came after a "difficult"
ICC investigation involving "years of complaints and testimonies from
victims".
An ICC spokesperson did not
immediately respond to the BBC's questions.
Mediterranea Saving Humans
also criticised the long-standing, controversial deal between Italy, under
which Italy trains and funds the coastguard to intercept migrant boats.
As part of this agreement,
Libya is expected to help reduce the number of migrants who pass through the
country and arrive in Italy.
At the time Mr Najim was
arrested, he was with other Libyan citizens and planned to go to a stadium,
attorney general Lucia Musti told la Repubblica.
Mr Najim's case has reportedly
been forwarded to the justice ministry and and the appeals court in Rome.
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