Rome: man threatens police officer on a bike and knocks him down; suspected attempted murder

Rome, 11 April (LaPresse) – Attempted murder, aggravated threats and failure to render assistance. These are the alleged offences being investigated by the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office following an incident on Easter Monday, at around 1.30 pm, in Via Borghesiana, in the eastern part of Rome. According to the reconstruction of events, three men with criminal records, travelling at high speed in a red Alfa Romeo Mito, pulled up alongside a cyclist and began threatening him for no apparent reason. They allegedly ordered him, claiming to be armed with a box cutter and a gun, to leave the road and use only the cycle paths, eventually forcing him against the crash barrier. The victim, who turned out to be a police officer on duty in Rome, initially tried to calm the attackers, who were presumably under the influence of drugs. The two threatened him with death: it was at that moment that the victim identified himself as a member of the State Police. The reaction of the three was immediate: they got out of the car, attempting to attack him and threatening him further. The police officer then managed to retrieve his bicycle and ride away for a few dozen metres. At that moment, the attackers put their foot down on the accelerator and hit him from behind, causing him to fall onto the tarmac and destroying his bicycle.