The Morion social center speaks out after the Rialto incident: “This escalation must be stopped; everyone needs to take to the streets.” Dutch and British influencers face formal complaints. Further tensions are expected on September 22. Meanwhile, investigations into the exact sequence of events are ongoing.
By Leonardo Bison
September 14, 2026
A protest is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, at 5:00 PM – starting from Venice Santa Lucia station – in response to the violence that erupted early Saturday afternoon in Campo San Bartolomio (Rialto). This marks the latest in a series of incidents involving far-right-aligned influencers in the city. The announcement was made this morning at a press conference by activists from the Morion social center, the group to which the assault victims belong.
Here is what is known about the events so far: On Saturday, a group of activists from Venetian Morion social center (who happened to be in the area) noticed “JollyTime” – a content creator from Bologna who describes himself as “anti-drug” – hunting for pickpockets alongside other foreign content creators. They confronted him, telling him to leave and calling him a fascist. However, the group accompanying him, which included about ten people, including influencers like the Dutchman “Dutch Travel Maniac” (Tom van den Heuvel) and Robbie Hageman (“therabbit91,” a former professional kickboxer), as well as other right-wing activists trained in MMA and martial arts, closed in on the activists. After a tense moment, the group of foreigners unleashed pepper spray, kicks, punches, and blows.
JollyTime has claimed self-defense, but the (numerous) available videos show that a verbal altercation in fact escalated when the foreigners resorted to physical violence, including the use of pepper spray. The fact that many of them had martial arts experience played a decisive role in the outcome. The toll stands at eight people requiring emergency room treatment, with a combined total of 106 days of recovery time prescribed. Investigations using available video surveillance footage will help clarify the exact sequence of events.
Giovanni Fassioli, a municipal councilor for Alleanza Verdi Sinistra – who suffered the worst injuries, including a split eyebrow requiring five stitches – identified van der Heuvel as the man who punched him. All the injured parties are filing, or have already filed, formal police reports.
Major demonstration planned for Saturday following a series of incidents
A large turnout is expected for Saturday’s demonstration, which is organized by the Laboratorio Occupato Morion and the Venice branch of ANPI (and open to further participation), given the national attention the incident has garnered. “Everyone needs to be at the demonstration,” said Tommaso Cacciari, a spokesperson for the Morion community. “To the city’s political establishment, which is condemning this attack today, we say: ‘Wake up – welcome to the situation. If you keep fanning the embers, eventually you won’t be able to control the flames.'”
This refers to a series of incidents in recent weeks involving visiting influencers. First, a British YouTuber came to Venice in late August to spray red dye on pickpockets (or suspected ones) while filming the scene, sparking chaos and strong reactions. Then, a Rome-based influencer, Simone Carabella, went to Mestre’s Piraghetto Park to provoke Muslims who were praying (resulting in a ban from the area). Finally, there was this incident on Saturday. In between, there was a minor incident last Monday involving a group of far-right activists from the Veneto region who posed for a photo – complete with banners and flags – in front of a Venetian bacaro (wine bar) run by a rapper and left-wing activist. There was also the politically motivated assault on actress Azmeri Haque Badhon, which occurred within the local Bangladeshi community.
The Mayor condemns the influencers. They plan possible trouble on Sept. 22
The influencers involved in Saturday’s assault are easily identifiable from video footage. Parliamentary questions regarding the incident will be raised by Alleanza Verdi Sinistra. Meanwhile, Mayor Simone Venturini reiterated today that “Venice has no need for individuals who come to the city seeking ‘likes’ while creating situations of violence and tension – such people are not welcome.”
Public order issues threaten to flare up again on September 22. Despite a Daspo order – a ban on entering the city, which carries the risk of harsher precautionary measures – influencer Simone Carabella has announced he will return to Parco Piraghetto, joined by members of Futuro Nazionale who have organized a demonstration in his support. This is happening on the same evening that a dinner is being held in the park to commemorate Giacomo Gobbato, an activist from the Rivolta social center in Marghera who was killed by a mugger in central Mestre on September 20, 2024.
Source: VeneziaToday
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