The State Police of Reggio Calabria has arrested a top member of the `ndrangheta reggina for multiple attempted homicide.
The investigation, conducted by the Reggio Calabria Mobile Squad, made it possible to identify in the boss the material author of a fire set in late February on a house in the south of Reggio Calabria, in order to cause the death of six foreign citizens of Romanian origin, including two very young children. The facts date back to February 27, when the makeshift home in which a 46-year-old Romanian homeless had found shelter, who was hosting other compatriots with children that day.
The occupants of the house were celebrating a birthday when suddenly they noticed flames that flared up inside, just in time to get to safety.
The Fire Brigade and the State Police quickly rushed to the site to tame the fire as soon as the alarm was given.
The subject is an element of high criminal thickness belonging to the homonymous gang of `ndrangheta operating in the south of the city of Reggio Calabria.
The policemen reconstructed the dynamics of the fire that last February 27 endangered the lives of the six Romanians, including women and children.
The investigators of the Flying Squad have ascertained that the 68enne during a fight, that same morning had beaten with a stick the Romanian woman who occupied the building with her guests, with the threat of "burning them alive" for having abandoned some trash bags next to the entrance to a farm owned by him. The subject then passed from threats to facts, sprinkling gasoline and setting fire to the entrance hall in which the foreigners were present.
Decisive to shed light on the episode of six Romanians who risked dying at home, were revealed footage of video surveillance systems examined by investigators of the State Police. The accurate analysis of the images, has made it possible to ascertain that, in the same afternoon, the 68enne, had gone to fill a petrol can, with an electric bicycle, at a local fuel distributor, after which he had gone home to the Romanians to start the fire in order to "burn them alive". The District Anti-Mafia Directorate contests the aggravating mafia because the facts have been committed to facilitate the activity of the LABATE gang, using the intimidation force of the association bond and the ensuing condition of subjugation and silence. The LABATE clan controls the Gebbione district of Reggio Calabria.
