THE Italian police officer who shot dead Berlin Christmas market attacker Anis Amri will not be decorated for heroism by Germany because his own extreme fascist links – along with those of his colleague - have been exposed.

A photo of Luca Scatà wearing a Union Jack T-shirt with his right armed raised in the Nazi salute was published in Germany's Bild newspaper on Monday.

'Doubtful heroes' was the headline in Bild which reported that Scatà's police partner Christian Movio, 36, also holds extremist views.

Scroll down for video

Luca Scata, pictured, who shot dead ISIS Berlin attacker Anis Amri in Milan will not receive a German bravery award after he was photographed giving a Nazi salute

Scata shot dead Anis Amri, pictured, who at the time was the most wanted man in Europe

Scatà, 29, became an instant global celebrity when he shot dead ISIS disciple Anis Amri in Milan on December 23, five days after he ploughed a hijacked truck into a Christmas market crowd in the German capital, killing 12 and injuring dozens more.

Tunisian-born bogus refugee Amri fled via the Netherlands, Belgium and France to Italy where he was stopped by the two policemen. He opened fired and wounded Movio before Scatà gunned him down.

Bild reported that it has intelligence from two federal ministries in Germany that plans to give the officers the Federal Cross of Merit – the highest award for civilian bravery – have been shelved after the political leanings of the duo were discovered on their Facebook profiles.

On April 25 last year, the anniversary of the liberation of Italy from fascist dictator and Hitler ally Benito Mussolini, the policeman posted an obituary notice on his site stating: 'Not all have committed treason. Many decided to stay true to the flag and to give their lives for it. I belong to this Italy, to those Italians who have not committed treason and who have not surrendered.'

Luca Scata, pictured, posted on Facebook an obituary notice for dictator Benito Mussolini

Amri killed 12 people after he crashed a hijacked truck into a popular Berlin Christmas market

The posting and others in praise of Italian fascism have since been deleted. According to Bild, Movio was no better and posted racist comments and was once 'delighted' to have received a Coke bottle with 'Adolf' inscribed upon it.

Bild published a photo of the dubious Coke bottle with a picture that Movio posted of Hitler beneath it with the words; 'Thanks Bro!'

Stephan Mayer of the Christian Social Union (CSU) which rules Germany in conjunction with Angelka Merkel's CDU, told the newspaper; 'The Federal Government's decision to give no medals these two police officers is absolutely right because of their apparent neo-fascist attitudes.'