THE DRAMA in St Mark's Square in Venice began in darkness in the first hour of yesterday morning, when the men - ranging in age from 20 to 55 and wearing combat fatigues - hijacked the last ferry from the island of Tronchetto to the Lido and forced its pilot to take them to St Mark's.
"They were determined and linked up by walkie-talkies but they didn't seem to have military training and they paid for their tickets before coming on board" said ferry captain, Giovanni Girotto, who changed course after being threatened with an MAB submachine-gun.
The bizarre squad, accompanied by a camper van and a lorry, arrived at St Mark's shortly after 1 a.m. They used the lorry to break down the door to the 16th century tower, the Campanile, in front of St Mark's Basilica. Proclaiming themselves soldiers of the Veneto Serenissimo government, they unfurled a flag bearing the Lion of St Mark. They also passed the time by broadcasting an announcement that the tower had been occupied by their "government."
Appeals by local authorities and the city Mayor, Mr Massimo Cacciari, for the group to leave the tower peacefully fell on deaf ears. After the efficient storming of their citadel by commandos, they were refusing to answer questions from the police last night.
Mr Arrigo Cipriani, the owner of Harry's Bar, just a pistol shot away from St Mark's Square, was not amused. "Let's hope the magistrates have these youngsters examined by a psychiatrist," he said. "The last thing we need is that Venice should acquire a reputation as a place at risk of revolution."