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Kind of a sad case in which better social support and community mental health programs may have resulted in a different life for this guy.
I don't think this guy had any malice. Some might argue that his statements to police were just excuses, but his behavior was bizarre enough to make me think this was a guy who was in need of food, shelter, and help; not incarceration. But the DOC is the largest mental health provider in the US....
It makes me think of my former clients/population I worked with. I hope this guy gets the help he needs. The world and the people in it aren't black and white; we all live in the grey. I worked with criminals I'd consider better people than many "upstanding citizens."
I think it just might have to do with the history of Islamic terror attacks..
Such as the London bombings and bridge attack, Charlie Hebdo attack and the more recent stabbings in France, the Madrid train bombings which killed 193 people, the November 2015 Paris attack in which 130 were murdered, the 2016 Atatürk Airport attack in Turkey which left 45 dead, the 2016 Brussels bombings, just to name a few...
I'm not suggesting that all or even most Islamic individuals are dangerous/terrorists. But there is a long, bloody history of Islamic extremism throughout Europe.
I'm also not suggesting this justifies these bans in Italy whatsoever. I share this because it's essential context to answer your question.