Italy bus attack: Salvini approves hero's citizenship

A boy who saved his classmates from an alleged school bus hijacker will be granted Italian citizenship, deputy PM Matteo Salvini has said.

Ramy Shehata, 13, raised the alarm on his hidden phone when the driver seized them from other pupils.

He and 50 other children escaped the vehicle before it was set alight near Milan.

Mr Salvini said the boy should be rewarded with citizenship for his heroics, Ansa news agency reports.

"Yes to citizenship for Ramy because it's as if he was my son and he showed he understood the values of this country," Mr Salvini told Ansa.

Ramy, whose father immigrated to Italy from Egypt in 2001, was reportedly born in Italy but was never issued with official documentation.

Under Italian law, children born to immigrant parents are not eligible for citizenship until they turn 18.

Another boy, Adam El Hamami, who is a Morroccan immigrant, also helped raise the alarm by secretly calling the authorities.

His father, Khalid El Hamami, said his son should also be granted Italian citizenship.

"Adam is a sensitive boy and he was very upset that everyone, even at school, talks about his partner but not him," he said.

Italian authorities have not commented on whether Adam will also be given an Italian passport.

Ramy was told he would be granted citizenship by government officials last week but Mr Salvini, leader of the anti-immigration League party, was reportedly reluctant to make an exception for him.

Mr Salvini said backgrounds checks on Ramy's father, Khaled Shehata, were needed before a decision could be made.

But speaking on Tuesday, Salvini appeared to change his stance, saying immigration laws "can be overcome" for "acts of skill or courage", Il Fatto Quotidiano reports.

Joint-deputy PM and Five Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio said he was "happy" he had convinced Mr Salvini to grant citizenship to Ramy.

Government officials have said that Ramy and Adam are among five boys involved in the attack who have been invited to meet Mr Salvini.

They also include Fabio, who tried to speak with the terrorist and calm him down and Nicolò, who offered himself as a hostage.

The boys were invited as special guests to watch Italy play Liechtenstein in a Euro 2020 qualifier match on Tuesday.