Sexual assaults by young people with a migration background on young women at Lake Garda have rekindled the debate in Italy about the inadequate or unsuccessful social integration of migrants from Africa and immigrants from the Maghreb.

In connection with a party of young Maghrebians, there were chaotic scenes and acts of violence last Thursday.

The Italian authorities have launched investigations into around 30 men on allegations of sexual assault on women aged 16 and 17 and suspected racist abuse.

Matthias Rub

Political correspondent for Italy, the Vatican, Albania and Malta based in Rome.

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The attacks on the women took place on the regional train from the seaside resort of Peschiera del Garda towards Milan in the early evening of the national holiday "Republic Day".

The teenagers and young men, who were migrants from North and Black Africa and descendants of Maghreb immigrants, had previously rioted in the seaside resort on the southern shore of Lake Garda.

Several people were injured in fights and stabbings.

After theft and property damage, riot police officers stepped in and broke up the beach party.

2000 young people meet to "conquer" a seaside resort

The more than 2000 young people from the Maghreb and from black Africa had arranged to meet via social media under the motto "L'Africa à Peschiera" (Africa in Peschiera) in order to "conquer" the picturesque town.

The popular bathing resort is on the Turin-Milan-Venice railway line and can be easily reached from the major cities by public transport.

The mayors of the neighboring towns of Peschiera and Desenzano accused the police headquarters of not being adequately prepared for the flash mob party.

Shortly before the departure of the train from Peschiera to Milan, there were chaotic scenes on the crowded platform.

The six young women from Milan and Pavia, who had spent the day at Gardaland amusement park, were already in the compartment into which the young men rushed.

According to Italian media reports, according to police investigation files, the Maghreb youths shouted: "White women have no business here!" Then the sexualised attacks began.

Alerted by their daughters from the train, their parents called the police.

The abused women were able to leave the train after a good half hour's journey at the Desenzano del Garda station, where they and their parents filed a complaint with the station police.

In the meantime, another ten women have reported sexual assaults in Peschiera del Garda.

In Milan, young women were also sexually harassed by young Maghrebians at the New Year's Eve celebrations at the Milan Cathedral.

The perpetrators could be identified thanks to the precise description provided by the victims and cell phone recordings, and they will have to answer in court.

Most recently, dozens of women were victims of verbal and physical sexual assaults at the annual meeting of veterans of the Italian mountain troops (Alpini) in Rimini in May.

Former interior minister Matteo Salvini, party leader of the right-wing national Lega, called for a reform of juvenile criminal law with the aim of declaring young people from the age of 15 fully criminally liable.

A legislative proposal by the Lega has been stuck in parliament for three years.