WARSAW: Roma villagers in Ukraine were forced to flee shortly before dozens of their homes were ransacked and set alight by a mob in -Loschynivky in the southern Odessa district.
The violence has been likened by Ukrainian media to the murderous pogroms that took place against the Jews during the Russian empire and the Second World War.
The violence broke out after an eight-year-old girl was found raped and murdered on Saturday. Police tracker-dogs led officers to the house of a 22-year-old Roma man, who was allegedly found drunk and covered in blood believed to be that of the victim's. Although he was quickly arrested on suspicion of murder, mobs began to attack Roma homes. Villagers have also demanded that no Roma be allowed to remain there and threatened to lynch anyone who does.