Italy puts more troops onto streets of Naples
An extra 500 troops are being deployed on the streets of Naples to deal with violent crime after the murder of six African immigrants sparked rioting.
Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa said the soldiers will be added to 3,000 already deployed across Italy as part of anti-crime measures.
Most will be sent to the Caserta area, near Naples, where last week the Africans were killed in a gangland-style shooting.
Police say the Naples-based Camorra crime syndicate might have organised the killings to punish the Africans for getting involved in drug trafficking, one of the Camorra’s criminal activities.
Angered by the killings, immigrants rioted, smashing car windows and stoning police vehicles.
One of the alleged killers, a man on house arrest for a drug charge, was arrested yesterday. Police are looking for at least two others.
La Russa said the soldiers will be used to patrol streets and man checkpoints in the Caserta area as well as in other crime-ridden zones.
