Four migrant fruit pickers have been burned to death in southern Italy in what prosecutors describe as one of the most brutal labour-related killings in recent years, sparking widespread outrage and renewed scrutiny of exploitation in the agricultural sector.  

The victims were discovered on Monday inside a burned-out van at a petrol station in Amendolara, in the southern Calabria region. Authorities said surveillance footage showed two individuals setting the vehicle on fire while the migrants were still inside.

“In 30 years of work, I have never seen such cruelty,” public prosecutor Alessandro D’Alessio, who is leading the investigation, told reporters on Wednesday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the killings, calling them “horrific murders” and pledging accountability.

“Italy does not back down in the face of violence and barbarity. It is essential to shed full light on this terrible crime and bring all those responsible to justice,” she said in a statement.

Survivor accounts

The sole survivor, Taj Mohammad Alamyar, said the migrants had been transported by two Pakistani gangmasters after working in strawberry fields.

According to his account, the group stopped at a petrol station before the attackers locked them inside the van and set it alight.

“We started screaming, but they opened the back door and threw a lighter inside. In an instant, it was hell,” Alamyar told La Repubblica.

He said he escaped through the boot of the vehicle.

Authorities said Alamyar and other workers had been employed under exploitative conditions, with reports indicating severe wage abuse.

Labour exploitation

Regional officials and labour groups say the case highlights long-standing issues of exploitation in Italy’s agricultural sector, where migrant workers are often vulnerable to abuse.

Roberto Occhiuto, president of Calabria, said the tragedy carried broader implications for Italian society.

“It is an appalling story, which shakes our consciences and raises profound questions about the tragedy of migration, the value of human dignity, and the responsibilities a civilised society must assume toward the most vulnerable,” he said.

According to the Placido Rizzotto Observatory, around 30% of farm workers in Italy were employed informally in 2023, reflecting the scale of undocumented labour practices in the sector.

Arrests and ongoing investigation

Prosecutors in Castrovillari confirmed that two foreign nationals have been detained on suspicion of multiple aggravated murder charges.

The suspects have not been publicly identified, and investigators have not confirmed a motive. However, the survivor said tensions had escalated over unpaid wages.

The workers were reportedly promised €45 ($52) for eight hours of work but had not been paid since April 20.

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News Migration Italy Exploitation Labour laws Calabria Abuse case Police Investigation