As of: March 29, 2024, 5:13 a.m
By: Natascha Berger, Kilian Bäuml
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A storm, a capsized houseboat and a deadly birthday party. But there was more to the accident in Italy - secret agents were on board.
Rome – The tragic boat accident on Lake Maggiore in May 2023, in which the houseboat “Goduria” capsized in a violent storm and four people lost their lives, has raised many questions. It was initially reported to be a birthday party, but rumors soon emerged that made the event seem like a spy thriller.
It was claimed that in addition to the crew, only active and former agents of the Israeli and Italian secret services were on board. Now these suspicions have been officially confirmed.
Secret service agents on board the capsized houseboat on Lake Maggiore
The truth behind the accident was revealed through a memorial plaque. According to the Italian newspaper
La Repubblica,
the names of the two deceased secret agents can be read on the plaque and on memorial stones: 53-year-old Tiziana B. and 62-year-old Claudio A. Visitors to the shores of Lake Maggiore in Italy can read a written statement , which states: "They lost their lives on May 28 in the waters of Lake Maggiore while carrying out a sensitive operational activity with related foreign services." No further details were disclosed.
Emergency services retrieve the sunken boat on Lake Maggiore, which capsized on Whit Sunday. © Vigili del Fuoco/dpa
There were a total of eight Italian and 13 Israeli agents on board the houseboat, as well as the houseboat's captain and his wife. The captain's wife, a 50-year-old Russian woman, did not survive the accident. A retired high-ranking agent from the Israeli secret service Mossad also lost his life. The other Israelis who managed to escape to shore or onto other boats were quickly taken out of the country, further fueling speculation about a secret operation on Lake Maggiore.
Shipwreck 2023: Memorial plaque confirms the presence of secret agents
The exact circumstances why the houseboat capsized and had to be rescued from a depth of 15 meters are still unclear. On the day of the accident, a severe weather warning was issued for all ships on Lake Maggiore around 5:30 p.m. According to the prosecutor's investigation, the boat should not have left the port of Lisanza. In addition, it was designed for a maximum of 15 passengers and therefore the houseboat was very overcrowded at the time of the accident. The Italian public prosecutor's office is now investigating the 53-year-old Italian captain and owner of the houseboat.
It remains unclear what “delicate operational activity” the secret agents wanted to carry out on the houseboat. Italian media reported that the region of northern Italy, southeastern France and southern Switzerland is considered a well-known “spy triangle.” This is known for secret operations by national and international agents.
(nbe/kiba/dpa)
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