ROME – Two people have been detained after a violent machete attack on a train conductor in Milan. The victim suffered huge trauma to an arm, which required surgery lasting seven hours. An off duty railway employee was also injured in the attack, police sources said.

 According to law enforcement officials the incident came about after a group of South American passengers refused to present tickets or passes during a service from the Expo site in Milan. It is thought that the two suspects belong to a Hispanic gang.

 The conductor underwent surgery during the early hours of Friday morning, with four specialist doctors attempting to firstly save the arm from amputation, and then trying to save its functionality.

 “The prognosis will become clear in the next few days,” one of the doctors told Corriere della Sera.

 The off-duty official who was also injured in the attack after suffered cuts to his face but his condition is not thought to be serious, said police sources.