Right-wing extremists shouting pro-fascist slogans ransacked a gay cultural association in Rome.
A statement from the association, the Mario Mieli Homosexual Cultural Circle, said a large group of youths had burst into the club Thursday evening and trashed the premises. After club members intervened, the vandals ran off, shouting slogans praising Holocaust-era death camps and Benito Mussolini.
“We fear that this situation is linked to the electoral climate,” the association said.
Rome is facing a tense mayoral runoff between rightist and leftist candidates following the sweeping win by the center right in this week’s general election. Both mayoral candidates condemned the attack.
