A Chinese couple believed to have links to Triad gangs was shot dead in Rome on Monday night, in what Italian authorities suspect is part of an escalating gang war over control of the profitable textile trade. The Italian Carabinieri confirmed the killings in an official statement.
Zhang Dayong, aged 53, and his wife Gong Xiaoqing, 38, were fatally shot in the back of the head while cycling through the Pigneto district of the capital. According to police reports, the assailants were on a motorcycle and fired at least six shots before fleeing the scene. The use of firearms is notably rare in Italy, even among organised criminal groups, due to the country’s strict gun control laws.
Investigators believe the attack is connected to an ongoing turf conflict among Chinese gangs involved in the textile industry, particularly in the fast fashion factories centred in Prato, a town near Florence. Police referred to the conflict as the “war of hangers”, a reference to the fierce competition between criminal networks vying for dominance in the sector.
Zhang, known by the alias “Asheng”, was facing trial in Florence alongside 78 others accused of managing illegal operations across several European countries, including Italy, France, Germany and Spain. He was expected to give testimony in the coming weeks and was believed to be the second-in-command of one of Europe’s most influential criminal syndicates, according to documents linked to the case. Zhang denied all charges. CNN has contacted his legal team for a response.
The trial stems from a major investigation launched in 2018 known as “China Truck”, which uncovered extensive trafficking of people and textiles allegedly orchestrated by Chinese mafia-style organisations across Europe. The inquiry was led by Italy’s Anti-Mafia Directorate.
Authorities are treating the double murder as an act of revenge, though no arrests have been made. Investigators also suspect the killings may mark a shift in alliances within the criminal networks controlling the garment industry. The attack follows a recent surge in violent incidents—ranging from attempted murders to arson and physical assaults—in Tuscany, Madrid and Paris, all linked to the same rival gangs.