Sixth Suspect Arrested in Taranto Killing

Why this is here: The group of young people first attempted to block a different man before intercepting and attacking Sako Bakari with a knife.

Police in Taranto, Italy, arrested a sixth young man accused in the homicide of Sako Bakari, a 35-year-old agricultural worker from Mali. The 22-year-old joins one other adult and four minors—aged 15 to 16—currently facing aggravated homicide charges. A 15-year-old previously confessed to the stabbing and led authorities to the weapon.

Investigators believe Bakari was surrounded and attacked following a minor dispute while on his way to work. He briefly sought refuge in a bar, but the owner asked him to leave before the final attack. Bakari arrived in Taranto in 2022 to join his brother and had been working as a farmhand.

The investigation continues as authorities schedule interviews with the remaining suspects. The local parish will host a “Festival of Peoples” on May 17th to promote inclusion and remember Bakari, hoping to counter fear within the migrant community.