Honduran police have arrested five after 600 Italian lynx troops

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) – Honduran police arrested five suspects on Friday for their role in killing an Italian man who allegedly killed a mob when more than 600 villagers were lynched by a mob, government said.

The villagers on Thursday attacked 65-year-old Giorgio Scanu with stones, sticks and machetes in the town of Santa Ana de Yusguare, in southern Honduras, in the Choluteca department, the security ministry said.

Crowds came after Scanu on Wednesday after beating a 78-year-old homeless man for damaging ornamental plants in his garden, according to police based on complaints from local residents.

“More than 600 angry residents entered the residence and used sticks, stones and machetes to kill the Italian accused of killing Mr. Juan de Dios Flores,” said Security Ministry spokeswoman Rebeca Martinez.

Parts of Scanu’s residence and a vehicle were burned, Martinez added.

Police arrested five people between the ages of 19 and 55 for the murder of a retired engineer Scanu, who lived in a rural village and has two children and a wife living in Tegucigalpa, according to officials.

Authorities said they believe his family is Honduran.

Martinez said authorities were looking for others related to Scanu’s lynching and that police were there, but were unable to stop him because of the size of the crowd.