Italy: Naples mafia suspects arrested over driving-school owner's brutal murder

Caserta, 21 June (AKI) - Police Thursday said they had arrested ten Naples mafia suspects over the murder of a driving-school owner in the southern town of Castel Vollturno in 2008.

Killers from the ruthless Casalesi clan pumped 20 bullets into Domenico Noviello on 16 May 2008 after he refused to pay 'protection money' to the local mafia and several of its members were arrested after he reported the matter to police.

The arrests of the ten suspects on Thursday folllowed an investigation by Naples anti-mafia magistrates.

The Casalesi clan's brutal drugs and extortion rackets were exposed by best-selling author Roberto Saviano's book Gomorrah and the award-winning film of the same name.

Saviano had to go into hiding and have police protection after he received death threats from the Casalesi.

Castel Volturno made world headlines in September 2008 when Naples mafia (Camorra) gunmen shot dead six West African immigrants outside a shop .

A huge anti-Camorra operation conducted the same month by police dealt a devastating blow to the Casalesi., resulting in the arrests of 107 people.

Those arrested included most-wanted mafia fugitive Giuseppe Setola, the clan's former boss in Caserta who allegedly ordered a string of murders, including the Castevolturno massacre.

Setola also ordered the killing of Noviello, according to anti-mafia investigators.