(ANSA) - Florence, December 14 - The government of Senegal on Wednesday expressed its indignation over the brutal killing of two Senegalese street vendors in Florence and called for a "full inquiry into the incident".
The government issued a statement through Agence France Press news agency after the two men were gunned down and three others were wounded by right-wing extremist Gianluca Casseri who killed himself after the shootings on Tuesday.
The city's professional soccer team Fiorentina cancelled a youth festival on Wednesday and called for a day of mourning after the shootings shocked the city.
The three wounded men, who are also Senegalese, are in a serious but stable condition. Florence's city council issued a statement, also translated into French and English, saying: "The city of Florence offers its sympathy to the Senegalese community".
Mayor Matteo Renzi met community officials on Wednesday and was to meet Minister for Cooperation Andrea Riccardi to discuss the murders.
Police manned the streets in front of the city's cathedral or Duomo late Tuesday when members of the Senegalese community took to the streets to protest against the killings.
Many Senegalese closed their stalls in the San Lorenzo market area in the city's historic centre where the second wave of shootings took place.
A banner erected in the area said: "No to racism. We are closed in a sign of solidarity for the victims of racism".
The city called for a minute's silence to remember the victims and the council was to hold a special meeting late Wednesday to discuss the killings.