CCTV captured a man attempting to snatch an 18-month-old girl as her parents left a supermarket in Bergamo. The mother fought back during the struggle and the child sustained a fractured femur; she was treated in hospital and is now recovering at home in a plaster cast. A 47-year-old homeless Romanian man was tackled by a security guard, arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault; his motive remains unclear.
CCTV Captures Attempted Abduction of 18-Month-Old in Bergamo Supermarket — Child Injured, Suspect Arrested
The man continued to pull the child away from her mother - X.com
CCTV footage shows a shocking attempt to snatch an 18-month-old girl as she and her parents were leaving a supermarket in Bergamo, northern Italy. A middle-aged man suddenly bent down, scooped up the toddler and tried to pull her away while shoppers looked on.
The child's mother fought back fiercely, clinging to her daughter. During the struggle the little girl suffered a fractured femur and was taken to hospital for treatment. She has since returned home and is recovering in a plaster cast.
A security guard and other shoppers intervened, and the alleged abductor was tackled and detained until police arrived. Authorities identified the suspect as a 47-year-old homeless Romanian man, who was arrested, remanded in custody and charged with aggravated kidnapping of a child under 14 and aggravated assault.
Police said the man's motive was unclear and that he had no previous criminal record. Prosecutors are due to question him on Tuesday.
"A survival instinct kicked in," the toddler's father, named Matteo, told Italian television. "To see your daughter in danger is dreadful. The reaction was immediate. You don’t think, you just act."
Matteo said the family had been shopping with the girl seated in a trolley before she wanted to walk. "I gave her to my partner and I was pushing the trolley. It all happened in a fraction of a second. It is not something that you expect, particularly because the supermarket was packed with people," he said. He thanked supermarket staff and the police for their quick intervention.
Senior police officer Marco Cadeddu described the incident as very serious, saying officers ensured the child received medical care and arrested the suspect. "It could have ended up being a lot worse," he said.
Elena Carnevali, the mayor of Bergamo, expressed solidarity with the parents after what she called a "terrifying experience."
Authorities are continuing their investigation. No further personal details about the family have been released to protect the child's privacy.
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