Nicola Calipari
Nicola Calipari (born June 23, 1953 in Reggio Calabria , † March 4, 2005 in Baghdad ) was an employee of the Italian foreign intelligence service SISMI . In an incident near Baghdad airport, while accompanying the journalist Giuliana Sgrena, who had recently been released from her hostage, he was shot by Mario Lozano , a soldier of the American occupation forces in Iraq, under unexplained circumstances. Calipari, who was instrumental in the liberation of Giuliana Sgrenas, died when he threw himself protectively over her.
Before he was deployed to free Sgrena, he is said to have participated in the successful negotiations for the release of two other Italian hostages in Iraq, Simona Pari and Simona Torretta .
The shooting of Calipari by US troops led to a clear resentment between Italy and the USA, during which Silvio Berlusconi summoned the US ambassador twice. Despite a joint investigation commission, no final clarification could be reached.
Nicola Calipari leaves behind his wife and two children. On the occasion of the state funeral on March 7, 2005, he was posthumously awarded the Italian gold medal for bravery by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi .
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Calipari, Nicola |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian agent, employee of the international secret service SISMI |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 23, 1953 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Reggio Calabria |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 4, 2005 |
| Place of death | Baghdad |