Firefighter arrested near papal venue in Buenos Aires: forged documentation and firearm at his home
A 25-year-old man was arrested on Sunday in Palermo whilst riding a motorcycle with false credentials during the security operation for Pope Leo XIV's visit.
Volunteer firefighter arrested 300 metres from papal stage in Buenos Aires
A 25-year-old man was detained on Sunday morning on Avenida Del Libertador and Kennedy, just over 300 metres from the Monument to the Spanish, where the central stage for Pope Leo XIV's visit to Buenos Aires is set up. According to clarin.com, police intercepted him whilst riding a motorcycle with allegedly forged credentials and an altered number plate.
Who is Tomás Eduardo Natenzon
The detainee was identified as Tomás Eduardo Natenzon. When intercepted by City Police officers, he presented himself as a volunteer firefighter from the Vuelta de Rocha station and displayed a circulation permit. However, investigators are working to determine whether that documentation is authentic.
Natenzon was placed at the disposal of federal prosecutor Carlos Rivolo and judge María Romilda Servini de Cubria. He is expected to be questioned on Monday.
A profile of a communications expert
His social media presents him as a specialist in telecommunications within the volunteer firefighting sphere. His last post on his Facebook account, published on 8 September, describes the completion of a Restricted Radio Operator Radio Telephonist course taught by the Argentine Federal Police.
"Of 30 course participants, only 12 passed this certification, with 5 members of the Centralised Radio Communications Equipment team from BVVR-FEBOCABA of the Buenos Aires City Volunteer Firefighting System", he wrote in that post, in which he appears posing at the PFA's Centre for Technological Training Division.
That history could explain the four communication devices he was carrying at the time of his detention, as well as similar equipment subsequently found at his home. What caught the attention of police officers, in addition to the multiple identification credentials, was precisely that quantity of radios and equipment.
Family claims Asperger's; everything is being checked
According to his family circle, Natenzon has a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome. "Everything is being checked. From his credentials as a firefighter to the alleged autism spectrum disorder", said a source consulted by Clarín.
The profile that emerges from his social media describes him as a young man raised in a gated community in Cardales, a golf and equestrian enthusiast, who studied at ORT school and joined the volunteer firefighters in 2020 to specialise in communications. Commercially, he appears as a seller of communications equipment and mobile telephony.
Firearm found during search
During a search carried out on Sunday at his home, investigators found a firearm. Authorities are evaluating whether it was properly registered.
The arrest took place in an area that also borders the United States Embassy. The location is particularly sensitive because Pope's first Mass in Argentina will be held there on Monday, and on Tuesday evening the pontiff will meet with young people.
Operation that admits no mistakes
The security operation mounted for the papal visit is designed to tolerate no leaks or errors. That logic explains the speed with which action was taken in response to Natenzon's presence in the restricted area.
It should be noted that the number plate photographed at the time of detention corresponds to the format used by registered radio operators, which supports the hypothesis that the young man acted out of interest rather than criminal intent. Nevertheless, neither the police nor the judiciary are ruling out his involvement whilst the investigation continues.
Source: Google News AR — Crime