Five held for Italy gang killing

Italian politicians voiced outrage over the Verona killing

Italian police have arrested the last of five suspects accused of beating a man to death in the city of Verona because he refused them a cigarette.

Police say the suspects have links to a far-right skinhead group.

The victim, 29-year-old Nicola Tommasoli, has been declared clinically dead. He had been in a coma since the attack in the northern city on 1 May.

Two of the gang had fled to London, but were arrested when they returned on Monday, a day after the other arrests.

The attack happened in the centre of Verona, whose mayor Flavio Tosi belongs to the right-wing, anti-immigration Northern League.

Mayor Tosi dismissed any far-right motive for the crime. "Verona is not a city of neo-Fascists and it does not deserve this shameful label because of the actions of a few hooligans," he said.

The five are believed to be neo-Nazi hard core fans of the local football team, Hellas Verona.