The alleged culprit has been apprehended by police.
The man reportedly used a box cutter or Stanley knife to stab his victims.
One of the victims, a 68-year-old man, was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.
According to police accounts, the captured man robbed a 39-year-old woman at knifepoint and took her phone, before robbing an El Salvadoran citizen of their phone and debit card.
The El Salvadoran is now recovering in hospital with a minor injury.
A 34-year-old Spanish woman was also robbed of her phone and 20 euros.
She was taken to hospital with a ‘code yellow’ level of injury.
The fourth mugging victim was a 23-year-old Italian woman who had her credit card stolen.
At this point, three Italian citizens aged 24, 68 and 57 intervened to rescue the young woman.
The men suffered various wounds and were each taken to hospital.
The 24-year-old was considered a ‘code yellow’ while the two older men were considered ‘code red’.
According to police, neither of the older men are suffering life-threatening injuries.
The thief was able to escape the confrontation and attempted to rob a fifth victim, a 44-year-old woman.
At this point, the man who is yet to be identified was stopped by patrolling motorcycled police officers.
Initially it seemed as though there may have been two accomplices, but police believe the man probably acted alone at different times in different locations.
“Upsetting news from Milan,” tweeted Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
“Only the heroic intervention of citizens prevented a more dramatic outcome.”
ANSA
