Manager Injured Defending Tourists in Rome Metro Attack
Rome, April 22 – Gabriele Fisichella, a 47-year-old manager for the luxury railway company “Dolce Vita Orient Express,” was assaulted and hospitalized after intervening to protect an elderly tourist couple from pickpockets at the Piramide metro station. The incident, which occurred on the afternoon of April 15, left Fisichella with a head injury, though fortunately no fractures.
Fisichella, who manages the exclusive train service from Ostiense station to various Italian cities, noticed three individuals surrounding the couple, whose backpacks were open. He warned the tourists about the risk of theft on the subway.
The Confrontation and Assault
“There were three characters around them, two ready to rob them and one to defend them if anyone intervened. They were wearing black hats to avoid being recognized by video surveillance footage,” Fisichella recounted. “I couldn’t just stand by. It had happened to me before, another similar situation on the metro.”
He described a brief exchange with one of the pickpockets, who had already taken the tourist’s wallet. “We looked at each other for a moment; I saw he was bad but also surprised. ‘I have to eat,’ he told me at one point, as if that authorized him to commit crimes. Crazy stuff.”
Suddenly, Fisichella felt his own backpack being pulled from behind, as if someone was trying to open it. “It wasn’t another attempt at theft; it was the accomplice who, in this way, forced me to turn around and hit me in the face with a punch.”
Hospitalization and Police Action
Fisichella fell, but was quickly aided by an ATAC employee and an Italpol security guard who were nearby. They immediately called emergency services. At Sant’Eugenio hospital, a CT scan fortunately revealed no fractures, only a head injury and a blow to the jaw.
Following the incident, Fisichella went to the police station. Polmetro officers had already identified the suspects through surveillance cameras, and Fisichella was able to confirm their identities from police mugshots. Two of the three individuals, Pedro Cosmin Evis Alexa, 22, and Constantin Alin Calauz, 25, were apprehended at Barberini station. They have been charged with attempted robbery and assault. The third accomplice remains at large.
Further Arrests in Metro Stations
This incident is part of a broader crackdown on crime within Rome’s metro system. During ongoing controls at metro stops and on trains, police have made additional arrests. At Termini station, four other thieves were apprehended. One was caught operating with a group of accomplices after targeting a foreign tourist. Another pickpocket, of Chilean nationality, was arrested at the same station for robbing a passerby, using a backpack to conceal his actions. A Peruvian national was also caught stealing clothing from a store in the commercial gallery at Termini. Furthermore, during these operations, a hashish dealer was also taken into custody.
The authorities continue to emphasize the importance of vigilance and report any suspicious activity to ensure the safety of both residents and tourists using Rome’s public transport network.
Source: Corriere della Sera
