Father assaulted at Rome playground, wife threatened with violence
Rome, March 9 – A father of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl was reportedly assaulted at a playground near the Piscina delle Rose in Rome’s Eur district on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred after an altercation with another couple regarding their children playing on a swing. The victim, whose name has not been released, has filed a complaint with the Carabinieri.
The incident unfolds at the Eur playground
The victim recounted the dramatic events to authorities, stating that he was pushing his daughter on a swing when he noticed another child, approximately six years old, repeatedly getting too close to the moving swings. “I noticed that the child with the orange jacket was at risk of being hit by the swings,” the father explained. “It was around 6 PM on Saturday. They had already been there for about fifteen minutes, as some park regulars told me.”
He further elaborated, “I was pushing my daughter, and next to me was that child’s mother. A woman who did not hesitate to insult her older son with very harsh epithets. That’s why I had already noticed her a couple of times. At one point, I decided to move him myself so that he wouldn’t get hurt. She saw me and started screaming, losing control of the swing with her other son on it. In that moment of commotion, that very child moved again towards my daughter’s swing and was hit. And that’s when all hell broke loose.”
Aggressor’s violent outburst and threats
The child’s father, described as being about 1.70 meters tall, 30-35 years old, robust, and speaking with a Roman accent, then intervened. “He was about ten meters away. He witnessed the scene and started approaching, shouting in front of everyone that it was my fault because I hadn’t seen his son. But the story had gone differently,” the victim stated. “I tried to explain to him that I couldn’t leave my daughter alone on the swing and I couldn’t stop the swing at that moment because I was behind it. I pointed out that he should have been controlling his son who had gone too close to the swings. But he didn’t even let me finish my sentence before he yelled ‘you piece of s***!’ and then reached me and punched me four or five times in the face. At least three I dodged, but two hit my jaw.”
The victim confirmed that he did not retaliate, opting to protect himself and his daughter. “Absolutely not. I just protected my face. And moved away from the swing so he wouldn’t hit my daughter too. My wife was quick to grab the child, who was shocked and in tears, to take her away. Meanwhile, my wife later told me, the aggressor’s partner approached her, shouting: ‘Now I’ll take your daughter and throw her in the pond!'”
Witnesses intervene, police investigation underway
According to the victim, other parents at the park intervened to separate the aggressor, who was initially reluctant to leave and was supported by his wife. However, when the wife saw about forty people approaching and threatening to call the police, she urged her husband to leave. “It took more than fifteen minutes,” the victim said. “All around, people were distraught, children were crying desperately. They ruined a peaceful afternoon. Who knows why.” The couple eventually left, continuing to shout profanities in front of their children.
The victim reported the incident to the Carabinieri on Sunday morning. He also sought medical attention for a contusion to his face, which is expected to heal in five days. The Carabinieri have indicated they will acquire video footage from nearby surveillance cameras to aid in their investigation. The area around the incident, specifically between Viale Umberto Tupini and Viale America, is known to have several security cameras.
This incident highlights growing concerns about public safety and aggressive behavior in public spaces. Authorities are urging witnesses to come forward with any additional information that could assist in identifying and apprehending the aggressors.
