Police in southern Italy detained two Pakistani nationals in connection with a minivan fire that killed four migrant farm workers in Calabria. The victims, three Afghans and a Pakistani, were found charred inside a burnt‑out van near a petrol station in a rural, agricultural region.
CCTV footage shows the suspects blocking the van’s doors and pouring a liquid that sparked the blaze. They are accused of demanding transport subsidies from the occupants, a request the workers refused, according to a surviving Afghan who escaped by smashing a window.
Italian authorities say the incident follows a spate of arson in which at least 14 vehicles carrying Pakistani staff have been targeted, reflecting worsening friction among migrant families over farm duties and lodging.
The region’s president, Roberto Occhiuto, called the incident “inhuman” and a shock to Italy’s faith in the human spirit. The CGIL labour union has urged urgent measures to guard workers from “the abominations of daily life endured by migrants” on the countryside.
Authorities confirmed the arrests after forensic evidence aligned with the footage, signalling a significant police response to a surge in violence against migrant labourers.
