Investigators examine soccer attack on policeman

Investigators in Catania are examining a film of the attack against a police officer killed in rioting at a Serie A match last week in hopes of identifying those responsible for his murder, Italian newspapers reported today.

The film from the stadium’s closed circuit cameras shows the fighting outside that began after the Catania-Palermo match had started on Friday night, and shows youths with partially covered faces approaching 38-year-old Filippo Raciti and one of them hitting him in the abdomen, newspapers including Corriere della Sera reported.

Raciti continued to work, but about 45 minutes later he climbed out of his car when someone tossed a fire cracker inside, and collapsed to the ground as a small, crude bomb went off next to him.

Police initially believed Raciti was killed by the bomb, but officials later said he died from severe injuries to his liver, probably after being hit by a blunt object.

So far, at least 34 people have been arrested, including 11 minors.