A man was detained in Italy after reports emerged that he allegedly attempted to cook a cat at a children’s playground in a public park.
Police were alerted after multiple witnesses called emergency services, saying a man appeared to be acting suspiciously and had started a fire in Crociata Park in Sarzana, a town in northeastern Italy.
According to local reports, the man—identified as a Nigerian migrant—was allegedly seen crouching over a makeshift grill where the body of a cat was placed, while a children’s slide was located nearby.
Authorities said officers arrived at the scene on April 15 and found the fire already extinguished, with the man reportedly standing some distance away from the animal.
The man was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty but was later released without charges, as investigators were unable to confirm whether the cat had been killed by him or was already dead.
The incident has triggered strong reactions from animal welfare groups, with calls for stricter enforcement and prosecution in cases of alleged cruelty.
LNDC Animal Protection president Piera Rosati said that while social hardship must be acknowledged, it does not justify violence against animals, stressing that support services are available for those in need.
Italian political figures also condemned the incident, with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini describing it as “heinous” and local officials calling it unacceptable and harmful to public safety and community standards.
