Italian police told people to take shelter indoors on Twitter.

Anti-immigrant sentiment

The shootings took place days after the dismembered body of an 18-year-old Italian woman was found in two suitcases near Macerata. A Nigerian man has been arrested in connection with the woman's death.

Italy will vote in a general election on March 4. Observers have warned that anti-migration rhetoric in the country has been mainstreamed.

"The expectations are now for [anti-migrant sentiments] to become a big issue," Italian journalist Lorenzo Luzi told Al Jazeera from Ancona.

"The timing is so close [to the general elections] that it will become political sooner rather than later."

Italian media reported that Traini ran as a candidate in local elections in Corridonia last year with the far-right Lega party.

Matteo Salvini, Lega's leader, condemned Saturday's shootings. He added that "out-of-control immigration" leads to social conflict.

The leader of Italy's Democratic Party PD, Matteo Renzi, called for calm in a Facebook post.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that "hatred and violence will not be able to divide us".