Escaped from the USA

Felon arrested during papal audience

Moises Tejada (small picture) was unable to disappear in the crowd of St. Peter's Square visitors.(Bild: APA/AFP/Tiziana FABI, doccs.ny.gov/osi-most-wanted, Krone KREATIV)

The handcuffs clicked on one of the most wanted criminals in the US state of New York during a papal audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican last week. The 54-year-old Moises Tejada tried to flee and disappear into the crowd, but failed.

According to the Spanish press agency Europa Press, the wanted man had three knives with him when he was arrested. During his interrogation, Tejada, who is accused by the US authorities of kidnapping and robbing several real estate agents, said that he had entered Italy from Ukraine.

Wanted man was previously in Ukrainian war zones
According to reports, Tejada had actually landed in Italy ten days earlier - with a stopover in the Republic of Moldova. Evidence was found on the 54-year-old American's cell phone that Tejada had been in Ukrainian war zones.

It is not known whether he took part in fighting there or what he was up to in Italy. The man fled his home country in 2022.