Italy's deputy Prime Minister has demanded chemical castration for five North African migrants who subjected a young couple to a horrific sexual assault in Rome, forcing the man to watch as they raped his 18-year-old fiancée.
Brutal Attack in Secluded Park
The terrifying incident occurred in the early hours of October 25th in Tor Tre Teste, an eastern suburb of Rome. The couple had parked in what was once a popular spot for courting couples but has recently become a no-go area due to rampant drug dealing.
According to police reports, the five-strong gang surrounded the vehicle while the 24-year-old man and his girlfriend were inside. Using a bottle, they smashed their way into the car despite the man's brave attempts to fight them off.
The attackers, all described as North African migrants, ignored the man's frantic pleas to leave his girlfriend alone. They dragged the terrified woman from the vehicle and raped her while restraining her boyfriend and forcing him to witness the entire ordeal.
Political Outcry and Demands for Justice
Firebrand anti-migration politician Matteo Salvini sparked national debate by calling for chemical castration of the perpetrators. Writing on X, the deputy Prime Minister stated: 'On the very day to highlight violence against women terrible news reaches us.'
Salvini revealed his party has prepared legislation before Parliament proposing chemical castration for rapists and paedophiles. He emphasised that 'conferences and red marks on faces are not enough, lets slash violence.'
The case has triggered widespread revulsion across Italy, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also speaking out against violence against women before the attack became public knowledge. Meloni, who has vowed to tackle migration, described such violence as 'an intolerable phenomenon that continues to strike and must be fought relentlessly.'
Investigation and Arrests
Italian authorities kept details of the attack confidential while hunting the suspects, eventually making three arrests early on Tuesday morning. Police confirmed that three Moroccans have been detained, with two apprehended in the Rome suburb of Quarticciolo and the third arrested 350 miles away in Verona.
A police source in Rome described the crime as 'particularly shocking' and noted the 'terrifying level of violence used against the couple.' The gang reportedly smashed the car window with a bottle and grabbed the woman's phone as she screamed for them not to take it.
Despite the woman's screams for help, the late hour and secluded location meant no one heard her cries. The traumatised couple eventually managed to drive to a nearby hospital to raise the alarm.
Forensic evidence played a crucial role in the investigation, with fingerprints found at the scene matching one of those arrested. The woman also identified one of the men from a photograph shown to her by police.
Authorities continue hunting at least two other suspects believed to be involved in the attack. The park where the assault occurred has a troubling history, with a 60-year-old woman attacked by a Gambian migrant in August under similar circumstances.
Local residents expressed their fury and fear, with one telling Italian media: 'Enough is enough, we are no longer citizens of our own city, our own country.' Another resident revealed he no longer allows his 18-year-old daughter to walk their dog alone in the area, citing broken street lights and gang activity.
This case follows another high-profile incident last year when a 13-year-old girl was raped by Egyptian migrants in Sicily. Italy remains the main arrival point for African migrants entering Europe, with more than 63,300 arrivals so far this year - already exceeding last year's total figures.
