British Cousins Accused of Near-Fatal Venice Stabbing on Valentine's Day
Italian police have revealed that two British cousins accused of knifing a man in the throat during a Valentine's Day altercation in Venice came within mere millimetres of killing him. The victim, a 22-year-old whose identity remains undisclosed, survived only because the blade narrowly avoided his jugular vein.
Violent Confrontation in Popular Cocktail Bar
The incident unfolded earlier this month inside the popular La Bussola cocktail bar in Venice. According to witnesses, an argument erupted after the two British men, identified as Axyl Izouaouen, 19, and Adam Izouaouen, 21, both from London, attempted to chat up a woman who was accompanying the victim. The confrontation quickly escalated, resulting in the victim being stabbed in the neck.
Eugenio Masino, head of the Venice Flying Squad, provided chilling details to the Daily Mail. 'The victim was lucky to escape with his life, his wound was very serious, and he will be in hospital at least a month,' he stated. 'He has dozens of stitches to his throat and if it had been a few millimetres to one side it would have sliced through his jugular vein and he would be dead.'
Dramatic Aftermath and Police Investigation
In a dramatic turn, the victim reportedly pulled the knife from his own throat and threw it to the ground. Witnesses claim one of the assailants then retrieved the weapon and discarded it into the nearby Canale Grande. Paramedics rushed to the scene as fellow bar patrons attempted to stem the profuse bleeding from the man's throat. He was subsequently transported to hospital for life-saving surgery.
Mr. Masino noted that the severity of the injury has hampered the investigation. 'We haven't had a chance to interview the victim properly because of his injury as doctors have told him not to try and speak,' he explained.
Tracking the Suspects Through Digital Footprints
The police investigation swiftly identified the suspects through a combination of CCTV footage from the bar, examination of till receipts, and analysis of their social media accounts. Details were exchanged with Interpol and London police, who confirmed the identities of the Izouaouen cousins.
'CCTV footage from the bar shows one of the men, Adam, handing the knife to the other, and the victim is then stabbed in the neck,' Mr. Masino detailed. The investigation revealed that Adam's grandmother owned a flat in Venice. A surveillance operation was mounted on the property.
'We saw the lights going on and off and then officers raided the apartment where the two men were and where the second husband of the grandmother was staying,' Masino added.
Suspects' Backgrounds and Current Status
Social media profiles indicate both men are from London. Adam Izouaouen is said to be a law student, while his cousin Axyl is reportedly unemployed. Both are currently in custody on suspicion of attempted murder and are being held in a jail near Venice. They are expected to appear in court again next month as the legal proceedings continue.
The case highlights the severe consequences of a violent dispute that began with an attempt to chat up a woman, leaving a young man fighting for his life and two British nationals facing serious charges in a foreign country.
