Two American college students have alleged that they were raped by Carabinieri officers in Florence who offered to drive them home from a nightclub in a police car.
According to the women, who are in their early twenties, the paramilitary policemen raped them in their rented apartment in the historic centre of Florence.
The US Consulate in Florence said it is "aware" of the complaint made by the two young women, who attend a well-known American university with a campus in Florence, according to local daily La Nazione.
The US Consulate said it is "following the case" but declined to comment further, La Nazione said.
