Headline: Student Group Claims Sexual Assault and Harassment in Milan‘s Piazza Duomo on New Year’s Eve
Article:
In a disturbing turn of events, six students from Liège, Belgium, have come forward with allegations of sexual assault and harassment during their New Year’s Eve celebration in Milan’s iconic Piazza Duomo. The group, comprising four young women and two men, all between 20 and 21 years old, had traveled to Milan expecting a festive experience but instead found themselves faced with a frightening ordeal.
"The men held our hands while others groped us underneath our clothes," they reported, describing the harrowing incident that unfolded amidst the massive crowd gathered to ring in the new year. The students revealed that they were surrounded and trapped, powerless against the advancing violence.
Piazza Duomo, which typically draws large crowds for New Year’s Eve celebrations, had fewer Italian locals and was instead packed with young foreign nationals from countries like Iraq, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates. The students emphasized that the lack of official New Year’s Eve events and safety measures organized by the municipality left them vulnerable.
Laura Barbier, an Anthisnes native and one of the students, recounted the traumatic experience: "We were caught off guard; this was our first time in Milan. The evening started off celebratory, but it quickly turned into a nightmare. We never imagined we’d become victims of such violent sexual assault and aggression, right in the middle of the city, with millions of people supposedly around us."
The assault reportedly lasted for 10 minutes, an eternity in such a scenario. The students allege that no one intervened until a fellow Italian man stepped in and rescued them, along with his wife, who was also being assaulted.
In response to the shocking allegations, Silvia Sardone, a local councilor and Member of the European Parliament with the League party, expressed her outrage: "If these claims are verified, it would confirm an absolutely unacceptable level of violence carried out by a group of young, predominantly foreign nationals, just like we’ve seen in past incidents. This isn’t just about rambunctious behavior and insults toward Italians and police; these assailants are accused of wishing to violate women in broad daylight."
Sardone further suggested that the alleged attackers might hold misogynistic views toward women, calling for more condemnation from feminist circles. "These young individuals seem to have a warped perception of women as mere objects to be abused freely, a belief still prevalent in some Islamic communities. We can no longer afford to remain silent or turn a blind eye to this issue," she said.
While the students await further investigation into their allegations, the New Year’s Eve incident has taken a chilling turn, highlighting the importance of safety and crowd control measures during large public gatherings.
