Italian police arrest four men for alleged gang rape of two British teenage girls

Police in Italy have arrested four men for the alleged drugging and gang rape of two British teenage girls at a party in the far south of the country.

Investigators said on Friday they believed up to eight men were involved in the attack and they are searching for the other four.

The 15-year-old girls were allegedly drugged and raped by several men at the party in the seaside village of Marconia di Pisticci in the southern region of Basilicata.

The four arrested men, aged 19-23, are from the area. They have been charged with rape and aggravated injury.

The alleged rape took place in the early hours of Tuesday in the garden of the villa in which the party was being held.

The two young women suffered cuts and bruises during the sexual assault.

“The girls tried to defend themselves and one of them bit one of the attackers on an intimate part,” said Pietro Argentino, a prosecutor.

One of the girls is believed to be a British citizen of Italian origin, who has relatives in the area.

The other girl, also British, was a friend who was on holiday with her.

After the alleged rape, the distraught girls recounted what had happened to the older sister of one of them.

“They went back to the party, found the sister, locked themselves in the bathroom and told her everything,” said Mr Argentino.

The teenagers were taken to Madonna delle Grazie hospital in the nearby town of Matera, where doctors called the police. They were treated for their injuries and for shock.

“What happened to them is of an extreme gravity,” said Giuseppe Rago, a lawyer acting for the teenagers.

“The girls are strong and tenacious and I hope they can give evidence with strength and clarity.

“Initially they were not able to remember all the details, they were in shock and still under the effects of hallucinogenic substances that they had unknowingly consumed.

“We hope that the authorities will be able to bring about justice for all that the girls and their families have been put through.”

The mayor of the town appealed for witnesses to the alleged attack to come forward.

Viviana Verri said the community had been shocked by the “hateful violence” perpetrated against the two minors.

“I feel obliged to make an appeal to the whole community: let's stand together.”

Anyone "able to help investigators put an end to this affair” should contact the police, she said.