Italian 21-year-old in medically induced coma after assault by dozen attackers in Barcelona
Nicola Maggiotto, a 21-year-old from Asolo near Treviso, is in a medically induced coma in a Barcelona hospital after being struck on the back of the head by a group of around a dozen young Spanish-speaking attackers outside a nightlife venue on Wednesday night.
The attack
Nicola Maggiotto, a 21-year-old from Asolo in the province of Treviso, was on holiday in Barcelona with a group of eight friends of the same age when the assault occurred on Wednesday night shortly after 22:00. The group had just exited a venue where they had spent several hours. According to the reconstruction provided by the young man's friends, Nicola and another member of the group had momentarily drifted apart from the others when they were approached by roughly a dozen Spanish-speaking young people. The 21-year-old was struck violently on the back of the head and lost consciousness. The attackers then sparked a brawl with the other Italians who rushed to help their two friends, before fleeing the scene before police and emergency services arrived.
Medical condition
Nicola Maggiotto was hospitalised in an intensive care unit at a Barcelona hospital, where doctors placed him in a medically induced coma. His father, Daniele Maggiotto, who travelled to the Catalan capital with his wife, told ANSA that his son was diagnosed with brain injuries and that the prognosis remains reserved. A friend who attempted to defend Nicola suffered a fracture to a cheekbone, required several stitches, and was discharged a few hours later.
- Nicola Maggiotto struck on the back of the head outside a Barcelona venue and loses consciousness
- Admitted to intensive care in a medically induced coma; brain injuries diagnosed, prognosis reserved
- Friend who tried to defend him treated for a zygomatic injury and discharged after stitches
- Family in Barcelona files complaint; Italian consulate confirms ongoing assistance; Spanish investigation open
No robbery motive
The assault does not appear to have been motivated by theft. Nothing was taken from the victims' belongings or wallets, according to the accounts gathered by the family. The attackers left the scene before the arrival of police and paramedics.
Consular and investigative response
The Italian consulate general in Barcelona has been providing assistance since the first report of the attack, maintaining contact with both the Maggiotto family and the hospital where the young man is being treated, according to Farnesina sources cited by AGI. The family, now in Barcelona, has filed a complaint with Spanish authorities, who have opened an investigation to reconstruct the circumstances of the assault and identify those responsible. The exact dynamics of the incident remain unclear.
Family reaction
Daniele Maggiotto spoke to ANSA from Barcelona, where he and his wife travelled to be at their son's bedside. The father confirmed the severity of the injuries and the reserved prognosis, relaying the account of the attack as reconstructed by his son's friends who were present at the scene.
