Qatari plane hits Milan airport lights during arrival of Winter Olympics staff

"A Qatari military cargo plane carrying security staff in Italy to assist with law enforcement for the Winter Olympics struck a lighting tower on Sunday as it manoeuvred upon landing at Milan's Malpensa airport, it has emerged. The aircraft was carrying 104 personnel from the Gulf state's elite security forces, plus huge jeeps and snowmobiles, as part of an agreement made with the Italian government, despite Qatar not competing in the games."

"Their arrival comes amid controversy over the involvement of a unit of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), one of the agencies embroiled in a brutal immigration crackdown in the US, in the security detail during the winter olympics, which begin on 6 February. A source at the Italian interior ministry said the involvement of Qatar's security force was mainly in a training capacity. Qatar is a fundamental partner in the security plan and any negative interpretation of the agreement is unfounded, the source added."

"The Qatari air force's C-17 Globemaster II plane slightly hit the lighting tower after landing on Sunday while making a wrong manoeuvre during the pushback phase, Milano Today reported. A welcome ceremony involving Qatar's ambassador in Italy and various Milan officials awaited the passengers as they disembarked. Escorted by Italian patrol vehicles, a convoy of SUVs and armoured vehicles bearing the inscription State of Qatar Lekhwiya (Lekhwiya is the name of Qatar's elite security force) then made its way through the centre of Milan."

A Qatari C-17 Globemaster II struck a lighting tower during pushback after landing at Milan's Malpensa while ferrying 104 personnel, jeeps and snowmobiles to assist law enforcement for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The force includes Lekhwiya, Qatar's elite security unit, and arrived under an agreement with the Italian government, despite Qatar not competing in the Games. A source at the Italian interior ministry said the Qatari role was mainly in a training capacity and described Qatar as a fundamental partner in the security plan, calling negative interpretations unfounded. The deployment joins about 6,000 Italian police and a contingent of US ICE agents, producing controversy.

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