Rome, January 23, 2026 – A series of alarming incidents involving Atac public buses in Rome has prompted strong condemnation from authorities and a swift response from transport unions. On Wednesday evening, an Atac bus operating on line 46B was targeted by a gunshot in the Torrevecchia district, followed by a second incident hours later in Primavalle where another bus on the same line was hit by a stone. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in either attack, but the events have raised serious concerns about public safety and led to the temporary suspension of service on the affected line.
Gunshot Strikes Bus in Torrevecchia
The first incident occurred around 7:50 PM on Wednesday, January 21, on Via Francesco Giovanni Commendore in the Torrevecchia neighborhood. A bullet pierced and shattered a window of the bus, which was in service at the time. Despite the severity of the attack, neither the passengers nor the driver sustained any injuries, a fact described as a miracle by many. Police from the Aurelio commissariat have launched an investigation into the shooting, working to reconstruct the dynamics of the event and identify those responsible.
Second Incident in Primavalle: Stone Thrown at Bus
Just a few hours after the shooting, at approximately 10:35 PM, a second report emerged. Another bus on the same 46B line was struck by a stone in the Primavalle area. While this incident also resulted in no injuries, it further escalated concerns regarding safety along the bus route. The police from the Primavalle commissariat are investigating this separate but related attack.
Atac Condemns Attacks, Campidoglio Expresses Concern
Atac, Rome’s public transport company, swiftly issued a statement condemning the attacks as an “unqualified act” that endangered the safety of passengers and personnel. The company highlighted the disruption caused to residents of the entire district due to the temporary suspension of the 46B line. Atac confirmed its active cooperation with law enforcement agencies and reiterated its commitment, alongside Roma Capitale and other competent authorities, to take all necessary measures to ensure the maximum safety of its employees and customers.
Atac also referenced an existing security protocol agreement signed with the Prefecture and trade unions, which mandates monitoring of critical areas and lines. The company warned that a recurrence of such incidents could lead to temporary diversions of bus lines from affected neighborhoods, inevitably impacting services for citizens.
Eugenio Patanè, the Capitoline Councillor for Mobility, echoed Atac’s concerns, describing the events as “a very serious matter, a criminal act that endangered the lives of the driver and passengers, affecting an essential public service.” Patanè expressed full solidarity with the involved workers and citizens, assuring them of Roma Capitale’s support for Atac and law enforcement in bringing clarity to the incidents.
Unions Announce Strike, Demand Urgent Meeting and Risk Zone Suspension
The reaction from category trade unions was equally strong. Filt-Cgil Roma and Lazio, Fit Cisl Lazio, Uil Trasporti Lazio, and Ugl Fna Roma and Lazio collectively denounced the “gravity of the incidents,” emphasizing that both the gunshot and stone-throwing occurred “at human height.” In response, the unions have called for an urgent meeting with the Prefect of Rome and have declared a joint four-hour strike for Thursday, January 22, from 8:00 PM to midnight, for all Atac workers. This strike is intended to protect the safety of both personnel and passengers.
In the short term, the trade unions are demanding the suspension of bus transit in areas deemed at risk. This measure would remain in effect until the incidents are fully clarified and adequate guarantees are provided to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The incidents underscore a growing concern for the safety of public transport workers and users in Rome, prompting calls for increased security measures and a thorough investigation into the motives behind these attacks.
