Italian detectives last night were investigating the Mafia style killing of a crime fighting Italian mayor gunned down in a hail of bullets at the seaside resort of Pollica near Salerno in southern Italy. Angelo Vassallo, 57, died instantly after being shot nine times at close range by waiting killers as he drove home.
Officials said that the local Mafia, known as the Camorra, were known to operate in the area and had begun to muscle in on the town's numerous businesses and construction projects.
Mr Vassallo, was described by local prosecutor Alfredo Greco, as a "man on the front line against crime" and he added how he had been tipped off by him off several times about organized crime activity.”
Mr Greco said: "He had been increasingly worried over the last few weeks,'' but in a bizarre twist it also emerged that Mr Vassallo himself was under investigation for alleged extortion, embezzlement and conspiracy.
A prosecution source said: "This is a killing in true Camorra style – plenty of bullets. He was hit several times and he was probably already dead but the killers kept firing. Someone wanted to teach him a lesson.”
"However at the same time he was also under investigation and so we are bearing in mind all possibilities and motives but at this stage there is not a particular one, although organized crime is highly likely.''
Pierluigi Bersani, secretary of the Democratic left party, said: "I express my shock at the killing of Angelo Vassallo. It is a ferocious execution that has taken him away from his family and the local community.”
"He was an honest and capable mayor, who knew how to work with spirit to achieve the principles of legality, using to the best the resources of the local area. I trust that the local forces of law and order, as well as the prosecutor, will do their utmost to shed full light on what happened and bring his killers to justice."
Source; The Scotsman
Popularity: 1% [?]
