Italian police have arrested two Pakistani nationals in connection with the murder of four farm workers, three Afghans and one Pakistani, whose bodies were discovered in a burnt-out minivan in southern Italy, Italian media reported on Tuesday. The vehicle was found at a petrol station near the village of Amendolara, located in a farming area of the Calabria region.
Survivor's Account
An Afghan man who survived the attack told Italian media that he escaped by smashing a window and fleeing. He claimed that the arrested Pakistanis had been threatening him and the others with knives and guns, forcing them to work without pay.
CCTV Evidence
CCTV footage from the petrol station showed two individuals blocking the van's doors from the outside and throwing a liquid inside, according to the Corriere della Sera daily, citing law enforcement sources. The images then captured a fire breaking out and the two suspects fleeing the scene. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and discovered the bodies inside the vehicle.
Earlier reports had incorrectly stated that all four victims were from Pakistan. Local police chief Antonio Borelli was quoted by Corriere as saying, "This is definitely murder, we just have to work out the details." The newspaper noted that there have been 14 cases of arson involving cars and minivans carrying Pakistanis in recent months in the area, where tensions exist among migrants over the division of farm work, residency papers, and accommodation.
