Three women, including a friend of Italy’s new prime minister, were killed when a man opened fire in a Rome cafe and injured four others.
The people inside were meeting as part of a local block residents’ committee.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri called the shooting a “serious incident of violence” and said he would hold an emergency meeting on Monday.
A suspect, 57, is in custody. According to reports, he has a history of conflicts with some of the committee’s boards.
According to a report by JEE News, the vice president of the committee, Luciana Ciorba, was in a cafe in the Fadine district.
He said the gunman entered the bar on Sunday and shouted “I’m going to kill you all” before using his pistol. He was allegedly subdued by other residents before being taken into custody by police.
Two women and two men are reported to be injured, one in critical condition.
Prime Minister Georgia Maloney named one of the dead women as her friend Nicoletta Golisano. The other dead women are Elisabetta Silenzi and Sabina Sperandio.
In a Facebook post, where she offered her condolences to Ms Golisano’s family, Ms Maloney said she would always remember her friend for being “beautiful and happy”.
“Nicoleta was a protective mother, a sincere and understanding friend, a strong and fragile woman at the same time,” he wrote.
“But above all she was a professional with an extraordinary sense of duty… Nicoletta was my friend.”
“It’s not right to die like this,” he added. “Nicoleta was happy, and beautiful, in the red dress she bought for her 50th birthday party a few weeks ago. To me, she will always be that beautiful and happy.”
Ms Maloney also said a shooting range where the suspect allegedly stole the gun used in the attack had been closed and an investigation was ongoing.
Police have not yet commented on the motive of the suspect, who has been named by the Italian press but not officially. This attack is not considered political.
Reports suggest that the suspect and the board of residents of the apartment block have been locked in a bitter dispute for some time.
Giorgia Meloni, leader of Italy’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, became the country’s first female prime minister in October.
