Italians go to the polls today, in a three-way battle between the centre-Right, the centre-Left and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement.

This is a campaign that has been dominated, like no other, by issues of immigration and security.

It is perhaps not surprising – in the last four years, more than 600,000 refugees and economic migrants have reached Italy in boats from the coast of North Africa, with the vast majority coming from Libya.

The immigration debate was thrust to the fore in early February with events that unfolded in the quiet, hilltop town of Macerata, in the Marche region of central Italy.

First, the dismembered body of an 18-year-old girl, Pamela Mastropietro, was found stuffed into two suitcases which had been dumped in the countryside not far from Macerata.

Then a young Nigerian immigrant, Innocent Oseghale, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

A day later, in retaliation for the death of the teenager, a 28-year-old Italian man went on the rampage, using a pistol to shoot at African migrants living in the town.