Mafia suspected of involvement in Pompeii restoration work

Restoration works at the world-famous Pompeii archaeological site are being investigated for suspected Mafia involvement.

Italy’s anti-Mafia prosecutors said they had ordered an inspection of certain areas of the Roman town yesterday which is being restored as part of a €105m project.

The inspections have already been carried out by prosecutors along with military and financial police.

The major restoration at Pompeii begun in February and is being funded by the Italian Government and the EU. It follows decades of “neglect and mismanagement” at the site.

Pompeii was destroyed along with Herculaneum by ash and pumice after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. It is geographically close to Naples - long acknowledged as Italy’s Mafia stronghold.

The inspections were prompted by several collapses in the ancient town and increasing concerns about the state of the cultural attraction, including that of a 2,000-year-old house once used by gladiators to train before combat.