Italian police have arrested two Pakistani nationals in connection with the murder of four Pakistani farm workers whose bodies were discovered inside a burnt-out minivan in southern Italy, according to media reports.
Image: Geo News
The vehicle was found at a petrol station near the village of Amendolara in the Calabria region, a major agricultural area that employs large numbers of migrant workers.
According to Corriere della Sera, CCTV footage from the petrol station allegedly showed two individuals blocking the van’s doors from the outside before pouring a liquid into the vehicle. The footage reportedly captured a fire breaking out shortly afterward, with the suspects fleeing the scene.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze and discovered the bodies of four Pakistani workers inside the van.
Local police chief Antonio Borelli described the incident as a clear case of murder, saying investigators were working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the crime.
Reports indicate that tensions have been rising among migrant communities in the area over access to farm work, residency documentation and accommodation. The newspaper noted that at least 14 arson incidents involving vehicles used by Pakistani migrants have been reported in recent months.
Italian authorities have launched a full investigation into the killings, while efforts continue to establish the motive behind the attack.
