TURIN, Italy, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Italian police on Friday arrested ten people accused of causing the mass stampede in which more than 1,500 citizens were injured and one killed in Turin last year.
According to RAI State television reports, all the arrested were migrants from North African countries aged between 18 and 20. They are reportedly suspected of committing robberies by using pepper spray, which caused the panic that swept through a Turin central square during a public screening of the UEFA Champions League final on June 3.
Police arrested the group of North Africans following months of investigations. In a wiretap, one of them was heard speaking about a precious necklace stolen in the northern city's central square that night. One of them reportedly confessed having a role in the robberies, according to police.
Turin Mayor Chiara Appendino, the city's police chief and prefect were among those probed, as they were the city authorities who organized the security measures at the public screening.
A woman, Erika Pioletti, 38, died at a local hospital two weeks after suffering a crush-induced heart attack in the stampede. A boy, seven-year-old Kelvin Liu, was also hurt. He was saved from more drastic injuries by a member of the Italian armed forces who protected him with his own body from the panic-stricken crowd. Days after, Kevin received a video call from Juventus player Paulo Dybala. The Argentine star also made his shirt delivered to the little boy, a football lover who plays for a local amateur club.
The Championship title-holder Real Madrid of Spain beat Juventus of Italy 4-1 to win the Champions League final for the 12th time on that night.
