This morning around 7.00am police knocked at the doors of a three social centers: Gabrio in Torino, Cecco Rivolta in Firenze, TPO in Bologna, as well as the Cobas trade union offices in Taranto. The huge mobilisation (a lot of cars, vans, and riot cops) was due to an order from Genoa's attorney.

The attorneys Andrea Canciani and Anna Canepa ordered the seizure of audio and video material relating to the Genoa G8 protests.

The search warrant explains that such material would have been collected through the Italy Indymedia website, and would be situated in the social centers Gabrio, TPO, Cecco Rivolta, and in the trade union Cobas offices in Taranto, and in other places (they used a general warrant which allows them to search and seize at their pleasure).

Searches are still going on. Police is seizing computers, archives, and all of the stuff from the places, not just that of Indymedia. They have taken materials that hundreds of italian activists need for their daily cultural and political activities.

The search warrant locates these places as "Indymedia offices". Italy Indymedia states that Indymedia has no offices, but works through the thousands of people who contribute to the website, and commit themselves to produce a free and independent information. Italy Indymedia decision making and project processes take place over the internet, through open and publicly accessible mailing lists and chatrooms. A daily and cooperative effort carried on by hundreds of people, who won't be threatened.

This morning, an attack has been struck against freedom of information. A few places have been targeted, to exercise a political pressure on Italy Indymedia.

The material seized in Bologna, Firenze, Torino, Taranto, just like all of Indymedia stuff, is freely viewable on our website. And so are the archives of our mailing lists, of our chats, and of all our activities.

Indymedia has nothing to hide.

Italy Indymedia, a network of independent media, reports a severe attack to free information.

http://italy.indymedia.org Independent Media Center Italia - the italian media revolution