Two arrested over murder of four migrant farm workers in Italy

WEB DESK: Italian police have arrested two Pakistani nationals in connection with the murder of four migrant farm workers whose bodies were discovered inside a burnt-out minivan in southern Italy, local media reported on Tuesday.

The victims three Afghan nationals and one Pakistani were found inside the vehicle at a petrol station near the village of Amendolara, located in a prominent farming district within the Calabria region.

Initial reports by local authorities had erroneously stated that all four victims were of Pakistani origin.

Exploitation and threats

According to Italian media outlets, an Afghan national survived the deadly incident by smashing one of the minivan’s windows and escaping the scene.

The survivor later told investigators that the arrested suspects had been systematically threatening the workers with knives and firearms, forcing them to perform agricultural labour without any financial compensation.

Footage recovered from the petrol station’s CCTV cameras showed two individuals blocking the doors of the minivan from the outside before pouring a liquid substance into the vehicle, the daily Corriere della Sera reported, citing law enforcement sources.

The video evidence captured a fire rapidly breaking out before the two perpetrators fled the scene. Firefighters discovered the four bodies inside the vehicle after extinguishing the blaze.

Rising tensions in agricultural sector

Confirming the launch of a homicide investigation, local police chief Antonio Borelli told the newspaper, “This is definitely murder, we just have to work out the details.”

The local press highlighted that this incident follows a string of similar violence, noting there have been 14 cases of arson involving vehicles transport Pakistani nationals in the region in recent months.

Authorities attribute the escalating violence to deep-seated tensions among migrant groups competing over agricultural employment opportunities, residency documentation, and local housing accommodations.