Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino on Thursday warned of the danger of falling into the racism "trap" sparked by a deadly hit-and-run by Roma teens.
"Rome won't be dragged into low electoral exploitation," he said. "Some - like (rightwing populist Northern League leader) Matteo Salvini and his Roman imitators - are...fomenting hatred at the risk of sparking further violence...adding fuel to the fire is...an outright crime, one that is unforgivable for anyone with local or national responsibilities".
The mayor spoke after the family of one of two minors being sought for the crash that killed a 44-year-old Filipino woman and injured eight more asked for victims' forgiveness. "We want to say to the victim's family and all the injured that we are sorry," they said. "If we could meet with them, we would ask for their forgiveness".
The sister of one of the two underage Roma being sought said earlier her brother is "not answering the phone".
"We don't know where he is," Claudia said. "If he shows up we'll take him to the magistrate".
Police in the nation's capital have launched a massive hunt for two minors who were in the car that mowed down several pedestrians during a police chase on Wednesday night.
The two minors escaped on foot, but police detained a 17-year-old girl of Roma ethnicity who was in the car. The teen was probably not at the wheel but investigators still consider her in part responsible for what happened, sources said.
Police are focusing their search for the suspects - whose identities they said they know - at Roma camps in the capital, sources said.
Three of the injured are hospitalized in critical condition.
The incident sparked an outpouring of racist abuse and threats on social media, leading city authorities to increase security around the capital's Roma camps, while Salvini repeated his previous call for Italy's Roma camps to be bulldozed in the light of the incident.
"When we return to government we'll raze all these damned Roma camps to the ground," Salvini promised on Facebook.
Salvini has been met with resistance - including hails of eggs, bottles and tomatoes - at campaign stops throughout italy ahead of May 31 local elections in seven regions.
In April, Facebook suspended his account for 24 hours for using derogatory language about the Roma people, after creating a furore by saying Roma camps should be demolished.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
