By Nicole Cherruault
THE DAD of the “ghost children” who were found living in the woods and unable to speak has insisted he turned their home into a “bunker to protect them”.
The brother and sister, aged nine and six, were discovered by horrified cops still wearing nappies and only able to communicate through their own primitive language.
The children’s parents never registered them with health officials or schools, with local media labelling them as “ghost children” due to their existence remaining unknown for so many years.
The young kids were said to be “filthy” when astonished cops made the heartbreaking discovery in Lauriano, northern Italy.
Local media reports on Monday say their 54-year-old sculptor dad and 38-year-old mum are both Dutch nationals.
The dad claimed he “just wanted to protect” his children so turned the family’s farmhouse into a self-sufficient “bunker”.
He told local newspaper Corriere Torino: “My wife and I provide them with everything they need.
“They have lots of toys, each their own laptop, lots of musical instruments and their own ski equipment.
“They go pony riding at the stables and spend a lot of time outdoors in restaurants and museums.”
The children’s dad also claimed he was homeschooling the pair, despite neither of them being able to read or write, local media reports.
The 54-year-old also reportedly said his decision to raise his children in what appears to be complete isolation was motivated by fear of infections like Covid-19.
The children were reportedly born in Germany before being moved over to a town in Turin.
Harrowing images of the ramshackle farm show random broken and abandoned furniture thrown outside and derelict trampolines that had clearly been left to rot.
Rubbish was also captured strewn across the garden.
The reclusive family was only discovered when cops arrived at their hillside farm to evacuate them after a flooding alert.
The Turin Juvenile Court ordered the immediate removal of the children from their parents.
It said in its ruling: “There are facts that suggest that the minors are deprived of adequate assistance from their parents or relatives who are required to provide it.”
The children have been taken into state care while arrangements are made for them to be taken into foster care.
During the removal process, concerns were raised about their mum, who is said to have shown little interest in her own kids, NL Times reports.
It’s thought she is homeless, the news site added.
Local mayor Mara Baccolla said: “It is a very delicate matter.
“These children can finally find a balance and have access to a life worthy of the name.”
She also reportedly spoke of meeting the dad once and described him as being “very reserved” who was unable to speak Italian.
Residents of the town near the farm have shared their shock about the children’s existence.
Despite it being known the farmhouse had changed owners, no one had visited the property in that time.
It’s unclear if the parents face further action.