A 17-year-old boy was sexually assaulted after falling asleep on a tram in Florence, Italy, between February 13 and 14. The incident underscores the vulnerability of public transit passengers and has led to the arrest of a 32-year-old man.
A 17-year-old awoke to find himself being sexually assaulted under a bridge in Florence, Italy, after being attacked by an unknown man. The teen had fallen asleep on a tram following a night out with friends. On March 3, 2026, authorities announced the arrest of a 32-year-old man in connection with the February 13-14 incident.
The Reconstruction
The teenager reported the assault to police after managing to escape and contact his parents. He was able to recount some details of the incident, whereas others were pieced together through security camera footage. On the evening of February 13, the 17-year-old had been with friends, moving between various establishments late into the night. Around 5 a.m., he boarded the T2 tram line to return home but fell asleep during the ride. He then experienced a gap in his memory, waking up under a bridge and being attacked. The boy managed to flee to a nearby convenience store, where the clerk helped him call his parents. He later received medical attention and filed a police report.
The Investigation
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage to determine what happened while the victim was unconscious. The footage shows the suspect boarding the tram and approaching the 17-year-old, who did not respond. Near the parking exchange close to the T2 line’s terminus, on the outskirts of Florence, the 32-year-old allegedly pulled the teen off the tram and dragged him toward the bridge, where the assault occurred. The suspect was later apprehended at the same location. He had a prior conviction for property crimes and several other complaints filed against him.
