Italy cracks down on fireworks

ROME, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Police in Rome say they seized more than 3 tons of illegal Chinese-made fireworks along with Christmas lights, toys and fish that had passed its sell-by date.

Four people were cited in Friday's crackdown for allegedly trying to sell Christmas items made in China carrying European Union safety labels. The crackdown was part of the Italian government's attempt to prevent injuries inflicted by powerful and illegal fireworks, most of which are made in China, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

New Year's Eve is traditionally a time of explosive mayhem, with burns and mutilations commonplace in cities around Italy. In the last two years, the Campania region around Naples was the worst-hit area, with residents racking up several hundred injuries including parts of hands blown off.

Many illegal fireworks sold in Italy are actually simple ordnance, ANSA said.

Police say there's a mortar on the black market that can cause serious damage to people and objects within a "very wide" radius. There's also "The Pope Bomb," "The Maradona Bomb," and this year's entry, "The Monti Bomb," named after Premier Mario Monti's austerity package, ANSA said.