Pistoia bus driver assaulted during late-night service

An Autolinee Toscane bus driver, Pasquale Auriemma, was assaulted during the final run of line 25 in Piazza a Montale, Pistoia, on September 25, 2026. The incident began when a passenger, appearing to be in an altered state, refused to produce a ticket and subsequently attacked the driver's cabin with kicks and punches.

Auriemma remained trapped in the driver's cabin for approximately twenty minutes while requesting assistance from the Carabinieri. Although he escaped physical injury, he was deeply shaken and received a five-day medical prognosis. The driver reported receiving death threats and intends to file a formal complaint.

In response to the attack, several labor unions, including FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL, and UIL TRASPORTI, have issued a strong condemnation. The unions are demanding an urgent security protocol to protect transit staff, specifically requesting the implementation of body cameras, the activation of emergency buttons linked directly to law enforcement, real-time access to onboard camera feeds for police, and the installation of anti-intruder protective panels for driver cabins.