Italian Police deny Morrissey claims about alleged confrontation with officer

Earlier this week, long-term Hot Press fave Morrissey claimed that he was "terrorized" by a police officer in Rome.

According to a Facebook post by his nephew, Sam Esty Rayner, “the officer shouted very loudly and a crowd of over 100 people gathered. The officer held his gun throughout the confrontation. After 35 minutes, Morrissey walked away, and the officer did not follow."

The Italian police are now pushing back against these allegations, a local publication La Republica notes. According to the police, Morrissey and his nephew had been speeding in a car, which they claim was going in the wrong direction on a one way street.

The officer who pulled them over was part of the Anti-terror efforts in the city and his actions were standard protocol in the these situations, according to La Republica. Also disputed by the police is the claim that that a gun was pulled on the Mancunian legend.

The incident in question caused Morrissey to cancel several remaining tour dates in the country. “Obviously, with psychopaths like this on the loose, it is not safe for me to be in Italy,” he explained.