World | earthquake Italy Squelched Scientist Who Predicted Quake Researcher cited for 'spreading alarm,' forced to retract findings By Nick McMaster Posted Apr 6, 2009 12:16 PM CDT Copied A portrait of late Pope John Paul II is seen inside a damaged church in the village of St. Elia, central Italy following a strong earthquake, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) An Italian scientist had predicted the quake that killed at least 92 early this morning near L’Aquila, but was silenced by the authorities, Reuters reports. Gioacchino Giuliani found evidence a month ago that a strong quake was brewing and organized a public-awareness campaign—which earned him a reprimand from police for “spreading alarm.” Giuliani was forced to remove his findings from the Internet. But the head of the National Geophysics Institute dismissed the authorities’ apparent lapse: "Every time there is an earthquake there are people who claim to have predicted it. As far as I know nobody predicted this earthquake with precision. It is not possible to predict earthquakes." Read These Next Defense officials react to Hegseth's Quantico meeting. Government shutdown is here. Here's what to expect. Colorado wants to give 'peace of mind' on Hunter S. Thompson. President asks nation's top generals to loosen up. Report an error