The suspect was a candidate for local office for a far-right, anti-immigrant party last year.<\/p>\n
by Stefano Pitrelli and Michael Birnbaum, The Washington Post<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A man draped in Italy\u2019s tricolor flag wounded at least six \u201cpeople of color\u201d in a drive-by shooting in a central Italian city on Saturday before being detained, authorities said. The suspect had been a candidate for the anti-immigrant Northern League party in municipal elections last year, according to a party spokeswoman.<\/p>\n The suspect\u2019s motive in the shootings in Macerata was not known, but a young Italian woman was gruesomely murdered in the city recently, allegedly by a Nigerian immigrant, prompting a wave of anger in a nation where many were already seeking to reduce the entry of migrants.<\/p>\n The attack\u2019s connection to the Northern League was likely to unsettle Italy as it approaches national elections on March\u00a04. Far-right groups have been gaining in the polls, and the Northern League may have a chance to govern as a junior member of a coalition with other right-wing parties.<\/p>\n A police spokesman said 28-year-old Luca Traini was detained near Macerata\u2019s central war memorial early Saturday afternoon. A handgun was in the suspect\u2019s car, and the green-white-and-red flag of Italy was tied around his shoulders, the official said. Traini admitted his guilt as he was arrested, added the spokesman, who declined to be publicly identified, citing rules set by the force.\u00a0The five men and one woman who were shot were expected to recover,\u00a0Macerata Mayor Romano Carancini said.<\/p>\n Local news outlets said the man was detained after he stepped out of his black Alfa Romeo 147 near the memorial, gave\u00a0a fascist salute<\/a>and shouted, \u201cItaly for the Italians.\u201d It was not clear whether the victims were Italian citizens.<\/p>\n After the attack, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni called on political leaders on all sides to stop a\u00a0\u201ccycle of violence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s stop this risk, let\u2019s stop it now, let\u2019s stop it together,\u201d he said in a nationally televised statement.\u00a0\u201cHate and violence won\u2019t be able to divide us.\u201d<\/p>\n