Moments of apprehension on Saturday afternoon in the Parco Leonardo shopping center, in via Portuense, near Fiumicino. A false alarm attack caused customers to flee, some of whom took refuge in the stores: merchants lowered their shutters for safety until the police arrive.
It was later discovered that the misunderstanding could be related to an argument between a foreign national, a Pakistani, and a security guard who had suggested a person armed with a gun. But it wasn’t true. However, it cannot be ruled out that the man had attempted a robbery, then it failed. And that he shouted “I’m armed!”, although there is no confirmation of this. Meanwhile, small groups of curious people gathered in the street to understand what was happening.
Blocked and taken to the police station
Investigations revealed that the man, now taken to the Fiumicino police station, is a loser who frequents the establishment, bothering those present and who tried to enter a store but was rejected. In this point I would return armed with a broken broom demanding to enter. But some would have mistaken that object for a firearm: hence the general stampede.
Other reports from recent days
Numerous patrols sent by the Police Headquarters intervened at the scene after the activation of the security device, although the investigators immediately understood it was a false alarm, linked to the terrorist psychosis of recent days that has already given rise to news, fortunately false, in the capital, in the ghetto, but also at a metro C stop, in Prati and also at Termini station. There were no injuries, but there was a lot of fear.
The man’s position is being examined by investigators.
The investigators observed the security cameras to reconstruct the events: the images did not show armed people but they could be assessed the position of the foreigner to understand what his true intentions were and if he was causing trouble for anyone. In particular, the attention of the patrols focused on some commercial activities, such as a perfumery and an underwear store.
Reinforced surveillance also for next Christmas
The capital’s shopping centers, as in the rest of Italy, are permanently included in the list of sensitive targets, which in Rome exceed 4,000. 400 of which are maximum security. Even in these structures, where supervision is carried out by security guards, police surveillance has been reinforced following the latest international events and will be even more so in the coming weeks. as the Christmas holidays approach.
