Palermo stabbing leaves one dead, suspect barricaded as gas leak forces building evacuation
A man was stabbed to death in a Palermo apartment building on Sunday morning. Another person is barricaded inside, and a gas leak has prompted an evacuation.
The incident
A man was stabbed to death this morning in an apartment on via Sampolo in Palermo, near the Stadio area. The attack followed a trivial argument that escalated, according to initial reports. The victim's age is disputed: AGI identifies him as 53-year-old Francesco Spataro, while other outlets report he was 68.
Gas leak and barricade
Firefighters arriving at the second-floor apartment detected a strong gas odor. Il Messaggero reports that a man barricaded inside the building opened the gas and threatened to blow up the entire structure. Other sources describe a person barricaded in the apartment, possibly involved in the condominium dispute that led to the stabbing.
Evacuation and response
Authorities evacuated the building as a precaution. Carabinieri are leading the investigation, with bomb squad units also on scene. Via Sampolo has been closed to traffic while operations continue.
Ongoing situation
As of early afternoon, the barricaded individual remains inside. It is unclear whether he is the attacker or another person present during the altercation. The investigation is ongoing.
