Sicily Mafia 'boss of bosses' arrested at hideout after 25 years on the run

In scenes straight out of the mob series The Sopranos capo Salvatore Lo Piccolo, 65, and his son Sandro, 32, were held along with two others.

Scroll down for more...

All four men were armed and sat around a table in the garage when officers burst in.

Shots were fired by police but no officers or the mobsters were hurt.

Salvatore Lo Piccolo, 65, had been on the run for more than 20 years and had taken over as the Mafia's top Don last year.

He took over from Bernardo Provenzano who had eluded police for more than 40 years before he was held in an isolated farmhouse.

This morning's) arrests took place in a villa at Cinisi on the outskirts of Palermo on the Italian island of Sicily, the Mafia's stronghold.

Police named the other two men held as Gaspare Pulizzi and Andrea Adamo, and all four were on Italy's most wanted list.

Palermo's chief prosecutor Francesco Messineo said: "We are delighted with the arrest of Salvatore Lo Piccolo and his son Sandro.

"Their arrest will be a severe blow to the Mafia and its grip on the city of Palermo.

Scroll down for more...

"Salvatore became the head of the Mafia after Provenzano's arrest and held the reins of power.

"The operation was the culmination of excellent police work and I congratulate all the officers involved."

Police refsued to reveal how they tracked Lo Piccolo down but said he was different from his "wanted" photograph suggesting they had been tipped off.