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Italy is at risk of total social collapse according to experts, following a surge in supermarket raids and robberies in the country's southern region. Police have been deployed to patrol supermarkets in Sicily after plots organising raids and thefts were discovered online. There is mounting concern that violence could soon break out due to food shortages after the Italian government extended its strict lockdown until Easter.

In Sicily, a ferry company has stopped shipping vital supplies of food and medicines after going bankrupt - sparking fears of riots. There were angry standoffs between supermarket staff and desperate customers in Palermo, the island’s capital.

In Naples, protesters gathered outside the home of a woman accused of fleeing northern Italy's lockdown and later testing positive for coronavirus. Raffaele Lettieri, the mayor of her home town Acerra, issued a video message on social media, condemning the woman for breaking quarantine and putting lives at risk. JUST IN: Jamie Oliver issues supermarket warning amid coronavirus At this difficult time for frontline doctors and nurses, sign up here to show your support now to our brave NHS Heroes.

Italy is at risk of total social collapse according to experts, amid a surge in supermarket raids

Police have been deployed to patrol supermarkets in Sicily

He said: "This person came down here from Lombardy on 9 March - today it's the 29th and only now have we discovered they have tested positive. "If for 20 days this person hasn't rigorously respected quarantine, for 20 days they have met people who met other people etc then enough. "One person who doesn't respect the quarantine is enough for the virus to spread." Following this, a furious mob of people gathered outside her home, prompting mask-wearing police to arrive on the scene and turn away the protesters.

There is mounting concern that violence could soon break out due to food shortages

The mayor condemned the woman for breaking quarantine and putting lives at risk