Milan prosecutors examine vigilante patrols in Rozzano under racial hatred statute

Assaults trigger street patrols

Tensions in Rozzano began on the morning of 16 September 2026 when a 24-year-old Moroccan national allegedly grabbed a 40-year-old woman in the street. Passersby beat the man before law enforcement intervened, leading to his transfer to a local hospital. Later that evening, groups of residents gathered in the town for unauthorized security patrols, recognized the same 24-year-old, and attacked him a second time alongside an intoxicated 40-year-old Moroccan man. On Thursday night, 17 September 2026, a crowd estimated at 300 people marched through local streets including via Liguria, via Lombardia, and via Lillà. During the march, rubbish was set on fire behind shop arcades in via Liguria near a municipal construction site known for drug transactions, prompting a response from firefighters and police.

Prosecutors open hate crime investigation

The investigative unit of the Milan carabinieri provincial command submitted a formal dossier on 19 September 2026 to Milan Chief Prosecutor Marcello Viola. Investigators identified two men suspected of carrying out the physical assault against the 24-year-old foreigner. The preliminary report outlines potential charges of battery aggravated by racial hatred, though judicial officials noted the legal classification could expand as inquiries proceed. Council member Domenico Anselmo visited the site of the Thursday fire, stating that he understood resident frustration while noting he had recently faced an attempted assault himself. Local authorities emphasized that street patrols organized by citizens carry severe legal risks and cannot replace official law enforcement operations.

Law enforcement security sweeps

Following the unauthorized night gatherings, the Milan Provincial Committee for Public Order and Security ordered reinforced territorial controls across degraded zones in Rozzano. On the evening of 18 September 2026, carabinieri checked 57 individuals, 21 vehicles, and one commercial establishment in the municipality. The operation led to the arrest of one person for drug dealing, while four individuals with prior police records received criminal complaints for narcotics, property offenses, and illegal weapons possession. Simultaneous operations across Milan neighborhoods, including Lambrate and the Darsena, identified 492 people and inspected 111 vehicles. A separate late-night disturbance in Rozzano on via Volta resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old woman who threw a bin at an ambulance, an event carabinieri noted was unrelated to the street marches.

Municipal response and urban context

On the evening of 18 September 2026, local residents staged an authorized and peaceful intercultural gathering through the town to counter the image of vigilante violence. Rozzano has a population of 40,000 residents and includes 5,500 public housing units, factors that led the national government to include the municipality in funding under the Caivano decree. Prefect Claudio Sgaraglia recently extended the town's designated red-zone security status by six months to support crime prevention measures. Mayor Mattia Ferretti reiterated that public safety is the sole responsibility of the state, firmly rejecting the practice of citizen patrols.

The right to manifest is sacrosanct, but it must happen in a peaceful and authorized way.