Italian ex-minister Salvini goes on trial for kidnap over blocked migrant ship

Matteo Salvini arrives at Palermo’s court (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Italy’s former interior minister Matteo Salvini has gone on trial charged with kidnapping for refusing to allow a Spanish migrant rescue ship to dock in Sicily, keeping the people onboard at sea for days in in 2019.

It is the first trial to go ahead against Salvini for his actions preventing migrant landings while he served as interior minister during 2018/19 in an uneasy coalition between the populist 5-Star Movement and his right-wing League group.