A far-right leader was bound and beaten by left-wing extremists in Italy.

Massimo Ursino, a prominent member of the anti-immigration Forza Nuova group, was attacked in Palermo and required hospital treatment.

His balaclava-clad assailants bound his hands and feet with parcel tape, The Local reported, and the beating left him with head and facial injuries.

They pounced as Mr Ursino left a supermarket in central Palermo, in Sicily.

An anonymous claim of responsibility said the attack was "a demonstration of the fact that in Palermo there are people who have no fear of fighting fascism".

On its Facebook page Forza Nuova said it was "attempted murder". The group's national head, Roberto Fiore, accused the attackers of a "hate campaign". Mr Fiore is due to speak in Palermo at the weekend.

The assault on Tuesday night came in the run-up to Italy's general election in March.

A number acts of vandalism, intimidation and violence have taken place during the tense campaign, including a bullet placed in mail destined for a candidate for Parliament, and the knifing of two people affixing campaign posters.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-elections-latest-updates-beat-bound-forza-nuova-antifa-massimo-ursino-palermo-sicily-a8223316.html