Ninja Menace Identified in Italy

Possessed of "real ultimate power" as some have described it, ninjas have been feared since they appeared in 15th century Japan. Renowned for their stealth, they were the perfect agents of espionage and assassination. With only a few exceptions, the ninja vanished from history. Now, however, he has returned to spread terror in the Italian countryside. A ninja robber, dressed in black and armed as his medieval forbears, victimized several farmers, robbing them at arrow point. Efforts to catch the masked assailant all failed, until an intrepid retiree thwarted the ninja by falling down his stairs and accidentally firing his rifle, which subsequently startled the ninja into flight.

Though the immediate danger has subsided, Interpol is worried this ninja may be part of a larger ninja conspiracy. Experts fear ninjas have infiltrated numerous aspects of society and are waiting for the proper time to unleash their reign of terror. When asked about their goals or motivations, Interpol ninja expert Robert Hamburger said "the purpose of the ninja is to flip out and kill people." In the U.S., Congressional Democrats remain skeptical, and have asked that America open a dialogue with samurai and pirates to help resolve the impending ninja crisis.