Police officer, 26, shot in abdomen inside Ancona police headquarters, likely accidental

The shooting

A 26-year-old female police officer was wounded by a bullet to the abdomen on the morning of Sunday, 1 November, at about 9:30, inside the police headquarters (Questura) in Ancona, Italy. According to reports, the shot was fired in the corridor of the shared bathrooms in the dormitory area, where trainee officers are housed. The officer was found lying on the floor and was helped by colleagues who had heard the shot, followed by 118 emergency medical staff who reached the scene.

The news only spread in the late afternoon. Early reports said the bullet entered and exited the abdomen but may have damaged internal organs. A pistol was reportedly found near her, probably her service weapon, but investigators are still checking whether it was the weapon that fired the shot.

Hospital treatment

The officer was taken urgently to the Torrette regional hospital in Ancona, where she underwent emergency abdominal surgery. She was then moved to the intensive care unit, where she is in serious condition and her prognosis is listed as guarded. Rai News described the prognosis in the same terms.

Investigation

The exact sequence of events is still unclear. Checks are under way to establish how the weapon was discharged, and an accidental shot is one of the hypotheses. Rescue services attended the scene and the checks have been launched.

Response from the police chief

The police chief in Ancona, Alfredo D'Agostino, the questore, said: "We are devastated by what happened: we are working to understand the sequence of events. Now is the time to pray for our colleague to recover."

What remains open

The officer's condition, the cause of the discharge and whether the pistol near her is the weapon that fired the shot have not been confirmed in the reports available. Updates are expected from investigators as the checks progress.