Three unrelated incidents of violence against workers in Venice – two against agents working for public transportation company ACTV and one at a retail store near San Marco – took place over the weekend of September 27 and 28. These attacks, along with other recent violent episodes in the historic city, including a bloody knife fight between drug dealers near Campo San Barnaba, add to concern about crime and security in Venice. The two stories follow below.
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Cipriani Shop Closed Due to Assault After Violence Against Salespeople
Saturday afternoon, an argument escalated into violence, with a salesperson insulted and injured by a group of young women identified as pickpockets. Investigators are examining the cameras.
Editorial Staff
June 30, 2026
La Bottega di Arrigo, the Cipriani group store in Frezzaria, located in the heart of the San Marco district, was also closed this morning “due to assault,” as a sign in the window reads. It was closed after two salespeople were attacked Saturday afternoon—one of them particularly violently—by a group of six young women, who have been identified as pickpockets.
The incident has already been reported in local newspapers. A salesperson, seeing that the pickpockets had targeted some tourists, customers of the store, warned them. But the pickpockets, who according to the two store clerks are constantly active in that area, first hurled racist insults at the clerk who had asked them to leave. Then, when she left the store to calm them down, the insults escalated to spitting, punching, kicking, and throwing umbrellas. The Carabinieri had to intervene, called by a colleague who was inside the store, and the young clerk suffered injuries to her tooth and hand. She also said she deliberately moved under the cameras during the attack to help identify the women: the footage is being examined by investigators.
Now the two clerks are afraid to return to the store, especially during their solo shifts, but the neighbors in the street are fully supportive. It is not known when the shop will reopen.
Source: Venezia Today
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Venice, Two ACTV Employees Attacked in Just Hours
Venice City Councilor Zuin condemns the attacks: “The company will join the civil action against those responsible.”
By Marta Artico
June 28, 2026
Two attacks against ACTV staff working in Piazzale Roma occurred within just a few hours of each other. During the night between Saturday and Sunday, a female sailor who intervened to stop an illegal vendor who was defrauding two tourists was attacked with a punch in the face.
On Sunday, June 28, a ticket inspector was attacked by one of a group of young men who had just been fined. Both employees were treated in the emergency room.
The first incident occurred on the night of Saturday, June 27. “One of our female sailors,” explains Giovanni Santoro, head of operational coordination for AVM ACTV Venice services, “was attacked by an illegal vendor, who was filmed trying to defraud two unsuspecting tourists. The worker did not look the other way, and, with a great spirit of service, tried to stop the fraudulent act: for this, she was insulted, chased, and hit, suffering a nose injury. After receiving medical attention, she was taken to the emergency room, where she was treated and released.”
“The second incident occurred on Sunday morning, around 9:30. Following a dispute that began on board the 5.2 line and continued at the Piazzale Roma pier, one of our inspectors, together with his team leader, fined a group of young people, issuing five reports. Only at the end of the intervention, completely suddenly and without warning, did one of those who had been fined hit him on the head. The employee then interrupted his work shift to go to the emergency room, while a Local Police patrol intervened on the scene to carry out the necessary investigations.”
Finally: “We thank law enforcement, the Local Police, and 118 for their prompt intervention. As a company, we will proceed to protect our workers at every level, filing complaints against those responsible. We will continue to protect our officers at all levels, because these people, who provide an essential service to the community every day, must be able to do so in complete safety. Our two officers have the full support of the entire city and our best wishes for a speedy recovery. Because safety—even for those who work every day serving the citizens—comes first.”
The Administration’s Condemnation
“The City Administration expresses the strongest condemnation of what happened and its full support for the two workers involved, to whom I wish a speedy recovery,” stated Michele Zuin, Councilor for Participatory Companies of the City of Venice.
“Any act of violence must be rejected without hesitation, even more so when the victims are the women and men who provide an essential public service every day, protecting citizens, commuters, and visitors to our city.”
“We will not allow and will not tolerate attacks against those who work in the community,” Zuin continued.
“That’s why I’m announcing now that the company will join the civil proceedings against those responsible. Anyone who uses violence against those who wear a uniform and do their job should know that they’ll receive a firm response from the institutions.”
Source: La Nuova di Venezia e Mestre
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