"Italy has become a country where blacks are shot on the street": Migrants protest angrily in Florence after Italian kills street vendor

African immigrants and Italians protested in Florence for a second day on Tuesday, chanting "no more racism" and criticising the anti-immigrant League party for stoking racial tensions after an Italian man shot dead a Senegalese street vendor.

Police said Roberto Pirrone on Monday fired six pistol shots at close range, killing Idy Dienec as he sold leather bags, umbrellas and trinkets on a bridge in the Tuscan city, one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations.

Later, dozens of immigrants marched through the historic centre of Florence, knocking over trash bins, motor scooters and large flower pots.

On Tuesday, some 500 African immigrants and Italians staged another protest on the bridge where the shooting took place.

Tensions ran high as 100 people approached riot police wielding shields and batons, but there were no clashes.

[link to news.trust.org]