Pepper spray incidents reported at Italian schools

Two separate incidents involving pepper spray have occurred at schools in Italy, causing respiratory irritation and medical emergencies.

In Pavia, at the Cardano technical institute, three students and a 43-year-old woman required medical assistance from emergency services after inhaling vapors from a pepper spray canister sprayed inside a classroom. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the release and how the substance was introduced to the room.

In Bolzano, a middle school student reportedly sprayed pepper spray in a corridor, leading to chaos and eye irritation among several students. One female student was transported to the hospital by ambulance to treat respiratory and eye irritation. The incident involved a third-grade student who had brought the canister to school, an item that is prohibited for minors under 16 in Italy. Police have reported the case to the juvenile prosecutor's office while investigating how the student obtained the spray.