Roman ‘Gladiators’ Arrested in Undercover Sting Operation
- Posted on August 12, 2011 at 7:30pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
- Print »
- Email »
This is a story you might have to read twice to believe. Italian police have reportedly arrested 20 gladiator impersonators operating around Rome’s various tourists sites in an actual undercover sting operation aimed at ending a violent scam in which the fake gladiators allegedly attacked each other with swords to vie for tourist photo opportunities. Did you get that straight?
Yes, police, disguised as gladiators, garbage collectors and “innocent” bystanders busted the gang allegedly made up of seven families working with five tourist agencies.
AFP brings us the details of this truly bizarre story:
The modern gladiators are accused of attacking and intimidating competitors for a lucrative business in which gladiators collect up to 10 euros ($14) for having their picture taken alongside tourists in front of attractions.
The police officers disguised as gladiators were beaten up by the alleged criminal gladiators before other undercover officers swooped in.
“Gladiators” are a feature of the Roman landscape for tourists, with men decked out in bright red capes, helmets with plumes of red feathers and sandals while carrying swords and round shields.
They can be found outside the Colosseum, Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza Venezia and even in front of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, preying on the millions of tourists who pass through Rome every year.
According to reports, these criminals divided up tourist sites as if it were gang turf.
One doesn‘t know whether to laugh or shake one’s head. The world economy may be in “ruins” but this is one creative, and desperate way to earn a little cash.
NBC provides the bizarre report:
Comments (36)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 583 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 411 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 408 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 374 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 363 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 408 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 411 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 363 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 408 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
islandbillwa
Posted on August 14, 2011 at 6:00pmMy late grandfather had a great sense of humor and often created jokes for our pleasure. This story reminds me of one that he told me in the 1940s….
“Cleopatra is out kissing Marc Anthony in the garden, but she’ll never get away with it because….(ready for this)…Julius SEES HER!”
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:52pmProb didn’t get a permit or license to practice…another Jobs killer. lol
Report Post »ohiovalleywizard
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 11:42amwhen in rome cut their throts, drink their wine. and take their women ah the good old days
Report Post »Red Bubba
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 10:37amTough business, mortal combat.
Report Post »Inlandmar2
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 10:27amThrow them to the lions! Start the orgy…….:)
Report Post »mohavegreen
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 10:13amPolice should have made it fair and brought spears to the sword fight.
Report Post »Todd P
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 10:01amI’m surprised so many BLAZE posters have missed the point of the story: There were legitimate street artists (gladiators) who were getting beat up by a gang of rivals who were also dressing as gladiators. So the police did an undercover sting, dressing up as gladiators also, and when they got attacked too – they made the arrests. There’s nothing wrong with street artists posing as gladiators to get some extra money, but there is something wrong when they get attacked by a gang who wants to “own the turf”. Come on people – read the story twice before you post!
Report Post »affinnity
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:21amIf people want to pay you $14.00 to have a photo taken why make it illegal. It isn’t like they were hurting anybody. Doesn’t anybody want to enjoy their lives anymore?
Report Post »bachstar
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 2:04amThe lion exited stage left.
Report Post »trueblueday
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:12amI think they need to show some gladiator photo I.D.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 11:47pmTime to let the lions loose…
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on August 14, 2011 at 9:50amThe cage IS open!
Report Post »-Publius
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:41pmthe police getting beat up by nerds dressed in tin foil and feathers? someone needs to train these poor guys before the girl scouts get to them
Report Post »lylejk
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:23pmFile this one under only can happen in Rome. lol
:)
Report Post »LucienTHackenpupea
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:52pmThere was nothing wrong with what the gladiators were doing UNTIL they attacked the competition. That is not business, it is assault and battery which in most civilized countries is illegal. The city of Rome should require licenses for “street performance art” to regulate the “actors”.
Report Post »Physicist_In_Training
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:37pm“There oughta be a law!” How often that is proclaimed; how seldom does the law perform as anticipated. I agreed with you up until that statement; there already is a law, as you pointed out; that law prohibits assault and battery, and the cops did a good job enforcing it! Sounds like the streets there are safe now for other performers who want to enter into the market.
Report Post »ree758
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 7:09amNo more regulations
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:58pmThere is nothing wrong with this. It is no different than visiting an old west theme park and watching a reinactment of an outlaw shootout. We need some gladiators in Washington DC to make some heads roll. I can just hear Obama screaming like a little girl as some big burley gladiator with sword and spear in hand chases him through the halls of the White House…Until big bad Michelle steps out like a bodyguard to protect her man child. Where’s the beef?
Report Post »Carol Ingian
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:54pmTaking that role playing a bit too seriously!
Report Post »Renaissance fairs are far more mellow….
MeteoricLimbo
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:45pmoh the humanity!
Report Post »DEConservative
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:34pmSounds like the Free Market to me…
Uh…is anyone dumb enough to think that Gladiators still exist? If so, I’ve got some oceanfront housing in Iowa for yah…call me.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:44pm“The police officers disguised as gladiators were beaten up by the alleged criminal gladiators before other undercover officers swooped in.”
Report Post »Which part of mafia thuggery is Free Market?
psst
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:24pmWell, if idiot tourists want to pay 14$ to take pics w/ fake Gladiators . what da hey. it the tourist’s loot.
Report Post »Now if these guys really want to make really big bucks, why not buy an old building, fix it up like a miniature Colosseum and the gangs who are fighting for turf can fight each other for real.
Charge a cuple hunnerd and 1/2 per ticket to get in.
Lets say, there are 20 gladiators gladiating per show.After paying the overhead, the ten still left alive gets to split the box office take.Pretty soon, Rome would have to build a Colosseum looking arena that holds 80-100 K people so the gladiators can gladiate. Hell make it a World wide show on TV, add it as an extry charge on cable bills.It would put cage fighting outa bidniz on TV.
Capitalism baby. Eyetaly is bankrupt like US anyway. Will be less EyeTalians to take care for in their old age.
And the taxes and Intnl. cable charges from these events will help to pay off their debt.
UlyssesP
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:46pmEnough already! This IS NOT CAPITALISM. This is gang turf warfare.
Report Post »The police officers disguised as gladiators were beaten up by the alleged criminal gladiators before other undercover officers swooped in.
psst
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:06pmOh Uly.
Report Post »Did you see this part of my post?.”and the gangs who are fighting for turf can fight each other for real.”
Um, I knew it was a gang turf warfare.
The rest of my post was tongue in cheek..Did you see the words .Eyetaly and Eyetalians?Comprende?
Lighten up.Live a little, have some fun. Ain’t none of US are gonna git outa here alive.
Don‘t take a pimple on a mosquito’s khaballs and turn it into Mount Everest.
Pop a cap and settle back.
-Publius
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:48pmwhy does ULYSSESP keep trying to explain the story to us? .
Report Post »Chrono_Sleuth
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:24pmI’m trying to get my head around this. A bunch of families allowing Tourists to have some fun, take a picture, and make a little money are a “gang.” I mean, they’re not attacking people, they’re not brutalizing anyone, they’re not extorting money.
I’m lost…
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:47pmAnd you call yourself a sleuth. The police officers disguised as gladiators were beaten up by the alleged criminal gladiators before other undercover officers swooped in.
Report Post »timel0rd
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:51pmThe point of the story is they are a gang. When the police showed up dressed as gladiators posing as ‘competitors’ to the gang, the gang assaulted them and beat them up to defend ‘their turf’.
Report Post »affinnity
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:26amSO if the Police hadn‘t dressed up as Gladiators and had minded their own business the Police wouldn’t have been beaten up – is this correct. The Italian authorities should be fighting crime not picking on people who play dress up games.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:23pmGladiator capitalism
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:32pmYes! Damn them! Damn those Gladiators! Huh?
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:23pmWhat are the requirements to be a “legal” gladiator?
Report Post »chips1
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:22pmEt tu, Brutis?
Report Post »Physicist_In_Training
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:40pmHaha. Best comment.
Report Post »nannyatnannydotgov
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:17pmMidieval times are returning to Mother Earth.
Report Post »