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Xenophobes attack South Asians in Rome

ROME: Fears of rising intolerance towards migrants in Italy grew after a group armed with sticks went on the rampage in a multi-ethnic Rome neighbourhood, smashing shop windows and hurling abuses.

In the 10-minute blitz on Saturday, the group of between 10-20 men attacked a food shop owned by an Indian and two stores operated by Bangladeshis, disappearing before police arrived. The assault comes as Silvio Berlusconi’s administration launches a crackdown on illegal immigration, and days after a mob firebombed Gypsy camps in Naples. Last month, crowds at Rome’s town hall welcomed newly-elected mayor Gianni Alemanno with fascist salutes.

Mr. Alemanno, a former neo-fascist, was voted in after promising to expel 20,000 migrants from Rome he said had broken the law.

On Sunday, he said he was “outraged” by the attack and promised “exemplary punishment for the guilty.” Opposition politician Piero Fassino spoke of “an unbelievable wave of racist violence that can only provoke horror.”

The Pigneto neighbourhood, where the attack took place, is a traditionally working-class area, recently settled in by migrants as well as students and artists. It has a reputation for peaceful coexistence, although locals said the assailants were probably from the area. The police said trouble began earlier in the day with a row between an Italian man and a migrant over stolen money.

“Italy is not a racist country,” said Interior Minister Roberto Maroni of the anti-immigrant Northern League party.

“Episodes of this kind are sometimes inflamed by crimes committed by illegal immigrants,” he said.

Also on Saturday, Cristian Floris, who works for a gay website in Rome, was assaulted outside his house by two men. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2008

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