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| Europe |
| Naples dubbed "Wild West" after killings |
| 2004-11-07 |
| A series of killings and gang shootouts in Naples have Italian officials worried that the southern city is turning into the "Wild West" of Italy, with many calling for tougher measures to curb the violence. On Sunday night, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a group of youths in a poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city, killing a 25-year-old and injuring five others. In the same area earlier in the week, at least two other people were killed and four injured. Authorities say the killings are part of a mob turf war. Naples Mayor Rosa Russo Jervolino said the attacks show that "strengthening intelligence services on the territory is necessary to understand what's going on", according to the ANSA news agency. The president of the Campania region, which includes Naples, called on the government to step up security measures. "We must react, all of us," Regional President Antonio Bassolino told Corriere della Sera. But then he added: "Guaranteeing public order is the duty of the central state." Criminality has traditionally been a problem in Naples, where unemployment runs as high as 24 per cent, according to some estimates. The nationwide average is about 9 per cent.The city and nearby villages are home to the Camorra crime syndicate, which runs extortion rackets, illegal gambling and drug trafficking. But the recent violence is unusual even by Naples' standards. Besides Sunday's attack, two suspected mobsters were killed and four paramilitary Carabinieri policemen were injured this week. Shootouts last month left a 17-year-old dead and two people injured, La Stampa newspaper said. Italian newspapers have dubbed Naples the "Wild West" of Italy, and Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu called on city residents to help authorities pin down the criminals. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #1 My brother lives in Naples. He is going to Iraq next month. I wonder which will worry more. His family about him or he about his family? |
| Posted by: Zpaz 2004-11-07 6:33:21 PM |