Bologna mayor Lepore safety and online attacks

In late July 2026, Mayor Matteo Lepore of Bologna was urged by local officials to address rising safety concerns in the nearby town of San Giovanni in Persiceto, where incidents such as the early closure of a bar had heightened fears of violence and intimidation. Councilor Michael Santi called for a joint meeting with Persiceto’s mayor to share responsibility for public safety, while political commentators warned that right‑wing forces were seeking to undermine the city’s progressive leadership.

The following day, Lepore reported a coordinated online hate campaign targeting him with thousands of AI‑generated fake social‑media accounts. The false narratives, which included fabricated claims about police protection, spread after the death of Abderrahim Fakir and were described as a threat to democratic debate and upcoming elections. Lepore announced he would file a formal complaint with the Polizia Postale and urged national authorities to regulate the creators of such accounts, noting that he had already received police protection.