 "Chinese couple linked to Triad turf war allegedly shot dead by mafia in Italy")
A Chinese couple believed to have ties to Triad gangs was shot dead in Rome in what authorities suspect is a gang-related assassination linked to a turf war over Europe’s fast fashion industry, Italian police (Carabinieri) said Tuesday (April 15).
Zhang Dayong, 53, and his wife, Gong Xiaoqing, 38, were riding bicycles through the Pigneto district of the capital late Monday (April 14) night when two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire, striking both victims in the back of the head, the Carabinieri said in a statement.
At least six shots were fired, police said. No arrests have been made, CNN reported.
Zhang, known by the alias “Asheng,” was a defendant in a high-profile trial in Florence involving 79 people accused of running a wide-reaching network of illegal trafficking operations across Italy, France, Germany, and Spain. He was expected to testify in the coming weeks and was believed to be the second-in-command of a major Chinese gang operating in Europe, according to documents from the Florence court.
Investigators believe the killings may have been a revenge attack tied to a violent rivalry between Chinese organised crime factions vying for control over the textile industry— especially in the Tuscan city of Prato, a major hub for fast fashion production.
The ongoing trial stems from a 2018 investigation codenamed “China Truck,” led by Italy’s Anti-Mafia Directorate, which uncovered alleged trafficking of people and goods tied to mafia-style Chinese groups across Europe.
While gun violence is rare in Italy, particularly in cases involving organised crime due to strict firearms laws, officials have noted a rise in violent incidents in recent months— including attempted murders, arsons, and assaults— in Tuscany, Madrid, and Paris. Police say the uptick may reflect shifting allegiances and escalating tensions among competing factions in the Chinese-dominated garment sector.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe investigation into Monday’s double homicide is ongoing.
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