Credits: latinatoday.it
The night near the Coliseum ended with friends laughing and taking photos, while celebrating the night by smoking cigarettes. Then came two North Africans, who asked if anyone wanted to smoke some hash. The friends said no and and then one guy asked for €10. The friends still said no. That was when the next event happened. One of the two North Africans, a 17-year-old Tunisian with no fixed address and already on police files, produced a knife and stabbed a 19-year-old male from Terracina in the side. Shouting filled the air. People started running. The friends tried to stop the guy from hitting the victim.
The police on patrol hear the screaming and ran in that direction. In Via degli Annibaldi, they found the young boy who was stabbed and pal. He told them what had happened. He was given immediate medical assistance and taken to the hospital.
Police searched the surrounding area and arrested one of the assailants, near Esquilino, while holding the knife. He was arrested. He was a minor, illegal immigrant and had prior police contact. He has been charged with attempted armed robbery.
Locals find the situation frustrating. Nightlife near the Coliseum is very unpredictable. This is especially true when you have minors with known histories of violent activity being arrested. People are asking if anybody is in charge of the streets, or is the city just trying to catch up or respond after the fact? Residents feel abandoned and helpless, witnessing repeat occurrences while local authorities respond after the fact.
References:
https://www.today.it/cronaca/roma-19enne-accoltellato-colosseo.html