Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Homicide by Italian and Foreign Nationals in Milan: A Narrative Review of Cases, 2015–2024

Abstract

The relationship between immigration and homicides in the city of Milan is a highly complex phenomenon, raising recurring questions about the disproportionate involvement of immigrants in criminal activities, with specific reference to violent crimes, as well as the frequency with which they are victims. The findings of this study contradict simplistic or xenophobic narratives, as no ethnic group emerges as inherently more prone to violence, while a significant proportion of victims are foreign nationals. A significant distinction can be drawn between domestic homicides, in which Italian victims predominate, and those related to criminal networks, in which foreign victims are particularly overrepresented. Nevertheless, the preponderance of homicides is observed to be of an intra-ethnic nature. Contrary to sensationalist rhetoric, the data indicate that concerns about the involvement of immigrants in homicides are largely unfounded. It has been observed that Italians tend to exhibit a higher propensity for homicide against other Italians, with a marginal yet statistically significant excess in the incidence of homicide against foreigners compared to the reverse scenario.