A sudden and violent storm over Lake Maggiore in northern Italy caused a boat carrying 23 passengers to capsize and sink, resulting in the death of four individuals. Although this freak tragedy would typically attract fleeting attention, it has become a media sensation in Italy because it has emerged that 21 of the passengers were spies or former spies, including 13 from Mossad (Israel’s foreign intelligence service) and eight from Italy’s intelligence agency. Many speculate about what the spies were doing on a Sunday afternoon on a rental boat named the “Good…uria”. It has been labeled a “spy party” by some media outlets. While official explanations suggested the group was on the boat to celebrate a birthday, suspicions continue to mount regarding their activities. Two of those who died belonged to Italy’s intelligence service, and Israel has confirmed that one casualty was a retired Mossad operative. The Mossad sent an aircraft to return the Israeli survivors home, and they tried to prevent publication of details about the incident in Israel. Although speculation abounds regarding the intentions of the group, the focus of the investigation remains strictly on what caused the boat to sink. A negligence case is under investigation against the Italian skipper, Carlo Carminati, but the police are indifferent to learning about the activities of the passengers. As of Wednesday, the boat had been dragged close to the shore but remained underwater, and if any documents or briefcases are found, they will be confiscated.
