Sicily police investigate illegal race with horse-drawn carts and Kalashnikovs
Summary
Police in Sicily are investigating an illegal horse race where spectators fired guns, including Kalashnikov rifles, into the air. Authorities seized the horses involved and closed down the stables, while questioning several people as the investigation continues.Key Facts
- The illegal horse race took place near the town of Palagonia, close to Catania in eastern Sicily.
- Spectators followed the race on scooters and fired pistols and Kalashnikov rifles into the air.
- Police worked with veterinarians to identify and remove the horses from unsafe conditions.
- Two men, aged 40 and 45, were reported to prosecutors in connection with the event.
- Illegal horse racing is common in Sicily, Calabria, and Campania and is linked to mafia groups like Cosa Nostra, Camorra, and ’Ndrangheta.
- These illegal races generate large amounts of cash through betting and demonstrate mafia control over local areas.
- Horses used in these races often come from legal racing but are misused and mistreated.
- From 1998 to 2024, over 4,300 people were reported and more than 1,400 horses seized in connection with illegal horse races in Italy.
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