Bitonto: two workers assaulted by youths over queue dispute

Two employees of the Gimino pastry shop in Bitonto, Italy, were violently assaulted by a group of youths following a dispute over service order. The incident began around 5:40 AM on Sunday, November 1, when two individuals approximately 20 years old allegedly demanded to be served immediately, bypassing other customers.

After being refused, the youths reportedly made threats and returned to the location around 6:10 AM while the workers, Giuseppe and Vincenzo Santoruvo, were loading goods onto a delivery van. The attackers allegedly struck the men with punches and kicks, and one individual used a steel towing hook to cause injury.

Giuseppe, 38, was transported to the Policlinico di Bari with a nasal fracture and other injuries, receiving a 15-day prognosis. Vincenzo sustained less severe injuries with a seven-day prognosis. The assault was captured by the shop’s surveillance cameras and a nearby vehicle’s dash cam. Local political group Coraggio Bitonto has called for increased security and prevention measures to protect workers operating during early hours.