A SKINHEAD draped in an Italian flag was bundled to the ground by cops hunting a gunman who wounded at least six people in a "racist" drive-by shooting.

Schools were put on lockdown as the local mayor warned a shooter was on the loose after the attack aimed at African migrants in the central Italian city of Macerata.

12 28-year-old Luca Traini reportedly admitted to the shootings after he was tackled to the ground and arrested by police Credit: EPA

Mayor Romano Carancini ordered locals to remain indoors and warned parents not to attempt picking up their kids from school.

"Stay at home until further notice. There is an armed man in a car who is shooting in the city," he wrote in a statement.

He added: "We stopped public transport. We asked schools to keep children inside until further notice. It is recommended not to move to pick them up until further notice."

The shots were fired from the window of a black Alfra Romeo car at two young African migrants shortly after 11 a.m. local time injuring one. Soon after another migrant and an African woman were shot.

12 Officers bundled Traini into a police truck in the town's Victory Square

12 Emergency services treating one of the victims of the drive-by shooting Credit: EPA

12 A charred bullet casing at one of the locations of the 'racist' gun attack in the Italian town Credit: AP:Associated Press

12 At least six people have been shot attacks that took place in at least two different locations Credit: EPA

Local news outlets reported as many as seven people were injured, with at least one in a critical condition.

"He drove around in his car and when he saw any coloured people he shot them," Marcello Mancini, a Macerata resident, told Reuters television.

Police confirmed one man has been arrested over the shootings.

Luca Traini, 28, was wearing an Italian flag around his neck and made a fascist salute when he was captured, Ansa news agency reported.

He is believed to have admitted to the horror shootings.

12 A bullet hole is seen in a shop window as police forensics officers carry out investigations Credit: AFP or licensors

12 Bullet holes in a window after the drive-by shooting in Macerata today Credit: AFP or licensors

The ruling centre-left Democratic Party said Traini had stood as a candidate for the far-right Northern League at local elections last year.

Matteo Renzi, Democratic Party leader, said: "The man who fired the gun, hitting six people of colour, is a squalid, mad person. But the state is stronger than him".

An unverified video on Twitter appeared to show the gunman draped in the Tricolour being hauled into a police truck in the town's Victory Square.

The video's caption reads: "The moment of the catch".

12 The shooter allegedly travelled through the area in a black Alfa Romeo Credit: AFP or licensors

12 Armed police watch on as investigators scour the area Credit: AFP or licensors

12 Armed cops flooded the area in Macerata on Saturday in response to the shooting Credit: AFP or licensors

12 Video footage from the scene shows one of the victims being stretchered into an ambulance

Video of injured victim being stretchered into ambulance after gunman opens fire in Italian city of Macerata

The attacks were carried out in Via Spalato and Via dei Velini - two key areas in an investigation into the murder of an 18-year-old girl whose body was found dismembered and hidden in two suitcases last Wednesday.

A Nigerian migrant has been arrested in connection with the death.

Racist comments calling for revenge attacks were posted on the Facebook page of the victim's mother in the run up to Saturday's shootings, Ansa reported.

It was not clear how serious their injuries are, but video footage from the scene shows one of the victims wearily raising his hand as he is stretchered into an ambulance.

Moment gunman is arrested by Italian police in Macerata after opening fire on at least four African migrants

12 The local mayor urged people to stay inside and avoid collecting their children from school

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