13-year-old stabs teacher in Rome school, police probe extremist Telegram network
A 13-year-old student attacked teacher Isabella Marsilio at the Giovanni Verga Institute in Rome's Centocelle district, using pepper spray and a 20‑centimetre knife after posting a countdown on TikTok the night before. Police believe the boy was recruited and possibly directed by members of a supremacist "accelerazionista" network operating on Telegram, noting that he was on a video call with unknown users during the assault.
Carabinieri have conducted digital searches of the teenager's and his mother's phones, uncovering credit‑card details used to purchase two diving knives and soft‑air goggles, and have taken forensic copies for further analysis. Investigators are working to identify the individuals who participated in the video call and to determine the extent of the network's involvement.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning outlets covered this 9h later
Why it matters
The case highlights how online extremist groups can influence minors and threaten school safety.
How this story developed
- Sep 18 13-Year-Old Attacks Teacher with Pepper Spray and Knife at Rome Middle School
- Sep 19 Police now suspect the attacker was directed by members of an extremist Telegram network.
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