Bologna, July 29, 2026 – Moments of tension this afternoon right in front of the Basilica of San Petronio, where after 1 p.m. a North African individual tried to cross the threshold of the basilica in an obvious state of intoxication and with a bottle of beer in hand. Before the man could enter, however, he was stopped by the Army soldiers on duty with the Safe Streets operation.
At this moment the foreigner reportedly showed a reaction lashing out at the soldiers before being stopped. The State Police were called to assist on site and then proceeded with checks on the foreigner. The man now faces a charge for resistance. The scene, of which several videos are circulating, took place in broad daylight in front of many tourists waiting in line to enter San Petronio.
The man reportedly elbowed one of the soldiers before being stopped following a scuffle. Subsequent checks by law enforcement revealed that the man, a Guinean born in 1987 legally residing in the country, already had numerous police records related to drugs and crimes against persons, including previous arrests for assault, drug dealing, and resistance.
The man was formally charged with resistance and also served with a notice to leave the area by the Anti-Crime unit.
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