Italy transport workers face surge in violent assaults

A series of violent assaults against transport workers and public officials has sparked calls for increased security across Italy.

In Ancona, a Conerobus driver was attacked by a group of youths at the Passetto terminus after enforcing rules regarding alcohol and a large dog without a muzzle. One 20-year-old suspect was arrested, while others face charges for interrupting public service. Conerobus leadership expressed full solidarity with the worker, emphasizing that no employee should face such intimidation.

In Florence, an Autolinee Toscane bus driver was repeatedly punched in the face and threatened with death following a delay caused by a vehicle breakdown. The victim required stitches and a ten-day medical prognosis. Labor unions have condemned the incident as a grave episode of violence against public transport workers and are organizing protests to demand better protection and more realistic scheduling.

In Pomigliano d’Arco, a municipal police officer was assaulted by a truck driver after attempting to address dangerous driving maneuvers. The driver allegedly blocked the officer’s vehicle, threw a bottle, and threatened him with an iron bar. Police seized knives and hashish from the truck, and the driver has been charged with multiple offenses, including resistance to a public official and personal injury.