ROME: Italian police have arrested two Pakistani nationals in connection with the killing of four Pakistani farm workers whose bodies were found inside a burnt-out minivan in southern Italy, local media reported on Tuesday.

According to the Corriere della Sera newspaper, the incident took place in the Calabria region, where a severely burnt vehicle was discovered at a petrol station near the village of Amendolara in a large agricultural area.

The report said CCTV footage from the petrol station showed two individuals blocking the van’s doors from outside before throwing a liquid inside the vehicle. The footage allegedly captured the moment a fire broke out, after which the suspects fled the scene.

Firefighters later recovered the bodies after extinguishing the blaze.

Local police chief Antonio Borelli was quoted as saying that investigators believe the case is clearly a murder, adding that authorities are working to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.

The report further stated that tensions in the region have been rising among migrant farm workers over employment, residency documentation and accommodation issues.

It also noted that there have been 14 reported cases of arson involving cars and minivans carrying migrants in recent months in the area, highlighting broader concerns over safety and labour-related disputes in the farming sector.