Lawyer hospitalized in intensive care after client acid attack in Messina

Assault in Messina

A 58-year-old lawyer sustained severe chemical burns on the evening of Friday, 25 September 2026, after being attacked with acid by a female client in Messina, Sicily. The assault resulted in deep burns covering approximately 20% of the victim's body. Upon arrival at the hospital, the lawyer recounted that the woman confronted him and poured a corrosive liquid over him in the street. In parallel, preliminary investigative reconstructions examined whether the confrontation took place at the attorney's private residence in Santo Stefano Mezzano, a frazione within the municipality of Messina. The attacker fled the scene immediately after throwing the chemical, leaving the injured attorney to seek emergency help. The caustic substance caused extensive tissue destruction, with injuries concentrated on the victim's face, chest, and abdomen.

Initial stabilization and transfer to Catania

Directly after the attack, emergency responders transported the lawyer to the emergency department at the Policlinico Gaetano Martino in Messina. Medical personnel administered urgent initial treatment to the chemical wounds, dressed the exposed tissue, and stabilized the victim's vital signs. Due to the severe depth of the caustic trauma and the extent of the burns, attending physicians determined that the patient required specialized multidisciplinary care. Hospital staff coordinated an urgent inter-hospital transfer to the Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania, where the regional burn center (Centro Grandi Ustioni) took charge of his treatment.

Intensive care and medical condition

Upon arriving at the Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania, the 58-year-old attorney was admitted to the intensive care unit under the supervision of burn care specialists. Attending physicians issued a reserved medical prognosis, reflecting the clinical risks associated with deep caustic chemical injuries to critical areas of the body, including the face and upper torso. Hospital authorities confirmed that despite the extent of the trauma and the need for intensive monitoring, the patient was stabilized and was not in danger of losing his life. Medical teams continue to monitor tissue recovery and respiratory parameters.

Carabinieri investigation and suspect search

An active criminal investigation is underway, led by the Carabinieri Provincial Command of Messina and the Carabinieri Messina South Company (Compagnia Messina Sud). Law enforcement officers are conducting targeted searches across the area to locate and apprehend the female suspect, who fled immediately following the attack. Detectives are reviewing professional records and examining past legal proceedings handled by the lawyer to determine the motive behind the assault, including the hypothesis of a prior dispute between the client and her counsel. Forensic personnel are also carrying out laboratory analyses to identify the exact chemical nature and concentration of the corrosive product used.