Local politicians are demanding urgent action, including deploying the army, after a violent incident early on Monday morning in which a Nigerian migrant attacked two police officers with a large axe in central Padua.
The 32-year-old man, an asylum seeker with a rejected application, was arrested and is now under guard in a hospital after being shot in the legs by police to stop him.
The confrontation unfolded around 4 a.m. on Via Trieste when residents reported a man agitatedly brandishing an axe. Police spent nearly an hour attempting to de-escalate the situation using tasers and pepper spray, but their efforts failed. At approximately 5 a.m., the man lunged at officers, forcing one to fire his weapon in self-defense.
As reported by Il Giornale, the attacker, who narrowly missed hitting one officer and cornered another against a wall, has been charged with attempted double murder.
The incident has reignited criticism over public safety in Padua. Elisa Cavinato, regional councilor of the Liga Veneta party, described the city as resembling the “Wild West” in certain areas, particularly at night, and called for military intervention. “The gravity of the situation in Padua requires the deployment of the army,” she said.
The president of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, praised the officers’ professionalism and composure under pressure, but stressed the attack “is of enormous gravity, especially considering that the attacker already had some complaints against him for threats and resistance.”
Police unions have raised alarm about the increasing frequency and severity of such incidents. Maurizio Ferrara, general secretary of the FSP Police Union in Veneto, highlighted a “crescendo of hatred and contempt” toward police. He noted that officers are often left without adequate tools to manage escalating violence.
The same has been said for those working on public transport in recent months following several incidents on Italian railways including one last month in which a train conductor in Genoa was stabbed by two North African migrants during a routine ticket inspection.
Europe's train conductors have become frontline victims of a violent breakdown in public order fueled by unchecked mass immigration, exposing systemic failures in both security and integration policies. https://t.co/l6ftYGB1yA
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) November 21, 2024Mirco Pesavento, regional secretary of the SAP police union, echoed these concerns, citing recent episodes of violence in Padua, including an incident where officers were surrounded and injured by a mob of 50 individuals. “The situations patrols face are becoming more dangerous and frequent,” he warned, calling for better resources and expedited expulsions of undocumented individuals involved in criminal acts.
The attack has sparked broader calls for increased support for police forces. Domenico Pianese, general secretary of the Coisp police union, urged political unity to address the challenges faced by officers. “It’s no longer tolerable that those risking their lives to protect others must do so in increasingly difficult conditions,” he said.
