Italian neo-Nazis convicted of anti-Semitic acts

ROME — Two leaders of Militia were among six members of the Italian neo-Nazi group convicted for racist and anti-Semitic activities.

A Rome court convicted the men on Tuesday. They were sentenced to prison terms of eight to 18 months.

Among those charged were Maurizio Boccacci and Stefano Schiavulli, who were directly responsible for many hate incidents against Jewish targets. They also attempted to reconstitute the Fascist Party.

Militia recently had publicly marked the anniversary of the death of Erich Priebke, an SS captain convicted of war crimes for participating in the massacre at the Ardeatine caves in Rome on March 24,1944. Priebke died in October 2013.

During a hearing last March, Schiavulli also threatened Rome Jewish community leader Riccardo Pacifici.

Last August, Militia called for a boycott of Jewish-owned stores through a massive poster campaign.