Death of student Zhang Yao, hit by train as she chased muggers in Rome, infuriates family and Chinese community

Sad and angry, the Chinese community in Rome on Sunday paid tribute to a student fatally hit by a train while pursuing muggers who had stolen her purse with her just-issued residency permit.

An aspiring fashion designer, 20-year-old Zhang Yao arrived in the Italian capital from China in March to attend Rome’s Academy of the Fine Arts.

Watch: Memorial after death of Chinese student Zhang Yao

On December 5, Zhang had just left the police complex in the largely industrial Tor Sapienza neighbourhood on Rome’s outskirts which issues and renews residency permits to foreigners when three young men snatched her bag. Friends said she called them with her cellphone to report what had happened and plead for help while apparently trying to regain her documents.

Media broadcast footage from an industrial company’s surveillance camera that showed Zhang, looking dazed near tracks at the local train station. First one train whizzes by and then another one struck her as she spoke on the phone. Her bloodied body was found on December 9 in a ditch, where it apparently landed after being struck by the train. The train crew apparently was unaware the woman was struck.

Police are looking for a trio of young men or boys shown on the surveillance cameras, Italian media said.