Authorities in Milan are on the hunt for five North African suspects who allegedly stabbed and robbed a 16-year-old boy near the Merlata Bloom shopping center.
The attack took place around 9 p.m. on Thursday when the teen and a female companion were ambushed. The assailants encircled him, assaulted him, and stabbed him multiple times while attempting to steal his phone, wallet, and scooter. Emergency crews rushed him to Niguarda Hospital, where he remains in serious condition.
Police are working to piece together the events and identify the suspects. Witnesses described the attackers as North African, though their identities have yet to be confirmed. This violent robbery follows another at the same location, where a 19-year-old was also stabbed and robbed.
Residents and workers in the area have raised alarms about escalating crime, citing frequent muggings and assaults. One local told Corriere Della Sera, “It’s the same story—attacks, robberies, violence. Nothing changes.”
In response to Milan’s worsening security situation, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi deployed 600 additional officers last November, highlighting that foreign nationals commit 65% of the city’s crimes while making up just 20% of the population. He stressed the urgent need to tackle integration challenges to curb rising violence.
Even Milan’s left-wing mayor, Beppe Sala, acknowledged the crisis, admitting, “I won’t pretend Milan is a safe city, but we are working on it.”
The city has also seen a surge in sexual assaults, with mass attacks on women during New Year’s Eve celebrations making headlines. Six Belgian students described being sexually harassed by a large group of foreign men in Piazza Duomo, calling it “a night of terror.”
Just last month, authorities arrested an Egyptian national while searching for nine more North African men linked to the brutal gang rape of a 19-year-old outside a nightclub. The gang first attempted a robbery but escalated the attack when the victims resisted.
Milan’s growing crime wave has left many questioning whether the city’s leaders are doing enough to restore law and order.
