Italian woman returns home after 18 months as hostage in East Africa

A young Italian woman returned to her homeland on Sunday after 18 months as a hostage in East Africa.

Silvia Romano lowered her face mask briefly to show a broad smile after getting off an Italian government plane at Rome-Ciampino International Airport.

She hugged her mother and other members of her family, and touched her elbows instead of shaking hands with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio.

Ms. Romano, 24, was volunteering for an Italian humanitarian group when she was kidnapped in November 2018 during an attack by a gunman in Kenya.

A video image showing Silvia Romano walking on the runway after landing at Rome Ciampino airport (Paolo Santalucia / AP)

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte thanked Italian intelligence agents who worked for his release, which took place in Somalia on Friday.

Ms. Romano was taken to the Italian embassy in Mogadishu after being released.

Rome-based prosecutors are investigating crimes committed abroad against Italian citizens, and are expected to question her about the kidnapping.

Italian news reports said the kidnappers finally turned her over to militants linked to Somali al-Shabab’s Islamic extremists. Al-Shabab has been accused of a series of kidnappings of foreigners along the Kenyan coast.

People applaud from the balconies in front of the house of the Italian volunteer Silvia Costanza Romano, 23, in Milan (Luca Bruno / AP)

Friends and acquaintances in the Milan neighborhood where Ms. Romano’s family lives applauded from windows, balconies, and on the streets when the plane that was carrying Ms. Romano’s home landed in Rome.

Italian media have also reported that he converted to Islam while in captivity.

Neither his family nor Italian officials have commented on the claim.

When she got off the plane, Ms. Romano was wearing a loose fitting garment over her hair and African attire, while also wearing a surgical mask, disposable gloves, and booties to protect herself against Covid-19.