A 66-year-old American citizen of Libyan origin has been arrested over a circumcision that caused the death of a two-year-old Nigerian boy in the Monterotondo, in the province of Roma, at the weekend.

Italian news agency Ansa reports that the dead boy's twin brother is seriously ill after undergoing a circumcision too, although his condition was said to be improving on Monday.

It is estimated that around 5,000 circumcisions are performed in Italy each year and around 35% are done illegally.