Armed men cause panic on Torre Annunziata beach in mafia showdown

Shooting and a burst of panic occurred on the beach in the city of Torre Annunziata in southern Italy. Among the vacationers, two masked men suddenly appeared. They were armed. Authorities do not rule out that this was an attempt at mafia retribution in an area where Camorra gangs are active.

Italian media report that this dangerous incident happened Friday afternoon at one of the most well-known and heavily frequented beaches near Naples.

It is not excluded that this was an attempted mafia retribution in an area where Camorra gangs are active.

Two men in helmets, fully covering their faces, ran onto the crowded beach with weapons. They began to circle, clearly looking for someone. After a few minutes, they retreated, firing several shots into the air.

The attackers fled, and panic broke out among the beachgoers. Soon, police and carabinieri arrived and began searching for the assailants.

In Torre Annunziata, an extraordinary meeting of the local security committee was announced. This was reported on Saturday by the city's mayor, Corrado Cuccurullo, who expressed serious concern about what is happening there.

"We need a firm and decisive reaction, a collective commitment in the fight against organized crime," he declared Saturday.

The media note that a day after this serious incident, fewer people than usual were on the local beaches; the fear has not passed.