Milan, December 23 – A 15-year-old student was subjected to a terrifying ordeal on Sunday evening when he was attacked and robbed by a ‘baby gang’ in the Corso Buenos Aires area of Milan. The incident, which lasted approximately twenty minutes, saw the teenager stripped of his jacket, sweatshirt, and shoes, before his wallet and mobile phone were stolen. The perpetrators then escalated their demands, calling the victim’s father and threatening his son’s life if 100 euros were not immediately transferred.
Violent Assault and Extortion Attempt in Central Milan
The victim, a student, was walking with friends between Porta Venezia and Corso Buenos Aires when he was approached by a group of four individuals – three males and one female – described as ‘very agitated,’ possibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the victim’s testimony, one of the attackers violently shoved him, forcibly removing his jacket and then his belt, which was used to threaten him. The attacker then placed a hand on his neck and, brandishing the belt, took his sweatshirt. His wallet and mobile phone were also stolen while the other members of the gang surrounded him in silence.
Police Intervention and Arrests
The victim’s friends quickly alerted emergency services. Before the police arrived, the gang attempted to force the teenager to withdraw money from an ATM, threatening him with death if he caused trouble. When he stated he had no money on his card, they returned his phone and ordered him to call his parents to top up a prepaid card with 100 euros. The chilling threat, “If you don’t transfer 100 euros, we will kill your son,” was then relayed directly to the father, an administrative manager in the university sector.
The parents attempted to locate their son’s phone before alerting the 112 emergency number. Police patrols were already en route. Upon arrival, the ‘baby gang’ and the victim were no longer at the initial scene. Officers picked up two of the victim’s friends and began searching the neighborhood. Within minutes, the gang was located. Carabinieri from the Radiomobile unit apprehended the three males. However, the female member of the gang immediately approached, throwing a bottle and then threatening an officer with a shard of glass before kicking him. Additional patrols arrived, as did the victim’s father. The victim himself appeared shortly after, shoeless, wearing only jeans and a T-shirt.
Suspects with Prior Records, Under Influence of Drugs
All four individuals involved in the attack have been arrested. A 20-year-old Tunisian man was taken to San Vittore prison, while a 16-year-old Moroccan, a 17-year-old Syrian, and a 15-year-old Moroccan girl were detained at the Beccaria juvenile detention center. They face serious charges including kidnapping, robbery, attempted extortion, and resisting a public official. The girl, in particular, violently resisted arrest, throwing a bottle and attacking an officer with a piece of glass.
All four suspects are from the Bergamo area and, despite their young age, have multiple prior arrests, consistently for robbery. The 15-year-old girl and the Syrian teenager are also suspected of having stolen a mobile phone from another boy in Milan in June, subsequently demanding a ‘ransom’ for its return.
During the arrest, one of the male suspects admitted to having taken ‘Rivotril,’ a drug often abused. He and the female suspect were so heavily under the influence that they reportedly headbutted the police car and required hospitalization. This incident highlights a disturbing trend of youth violence and drug use in urban centers.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the full extent of the gang’s activities and to ensure the safety of the city’s residents, particularly in popular areas like Corso Buenos Aires.
Source: milano.corriere.it
