BOLOGNA - A public transport driver was violently assaulted on Sunday in Piazza Minghetti, in central Bologna, after a passenger allegedly spat at him and bit part of his ear off.
According to reports, the man had just boarded a Route 96 bus when an argument broke out because the vehicle had stopped a few metres beyond the bus shelter. The situation quickly escalated, with the passenger first spitting at the driver and then biting his ear, severing a piece of cartilage.
The driver attempted to defend himself and a scuffle ensued. The attacker fled the scene as soon as he saw police arriving.
Paramedics treated the injured driver at the scene.
Police have obtained CCTV footage from onboard surveillance cameras and are working to identify the suspect.
Bologna's Councillor for Mobility and Infrastructure, Michele Campaniello, condemned the assault, describing it as “an act of unprecedented and unacceptable violence” and “a profound offence to our entire civil community.”
On behalf of both himself and the city administration, Campaniello expressed his “full, heartfelt and unconditional solidarity” with the injured worker.
“Public transport drivers provide an essential service to the community every day, often under challenging conditions,” he said. “They have the fundamental right to work in complete safety without fearing for their physical wellbeing. No disruption, whether real or perceived, can ever justify or diminish an act of brutality like this.”
The councillor also expressed confidence in the police investigation and said he trusted authorities would identify and bring the attacker to justice.
