Leader Of Rome's Jewish Community Riccardo Pacifici Locked In At Auschwitz And Arrested

Leader Of Rome's Jewish Community Locked In At Auschwitz And Arrested
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The leader of Rome's Jewish community was inadvertently locked in at Auschwitz on Tuesday night while taking back in a live broadcast commemorating the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp.

Riccardo Pacifici and his four crew were forced to climb through a window to escape which triggered an alarm and subsequently led to their arrest.

A minor diplomatic incident ensued and Italian officials had to step in to secure their release.

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Riccardo Pacifici

Pacifici, himself the grandson of Auswitcz victims, took to Twitter to voice his gratitude.

The tweet reads: "Thank you for the phonecall received by the President Pietro Grasso for the misadventure night at Auschwitz. Thank you Chairman."

The incident occurred on the day dignitaries from around the world had gathered to remember the 11 million victims of the Holocaust, around 1.5 million of whom died at the camp in Poland.