A one-year-old girl suffered a fractured femur after being pulled in opposite directions during a terrifying supermarket incident where a homeless man attempted to snatch her from her parents in Bergamo, Italy.
The Romanian man has been arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping of a child under 14 and aggravated assault following the attack captured on CCTV at the store. He remains in prison awaiting validation of his arrest.
Doctors treating the toddler at hospital confirmed she sustained the broken leg bone as a result of the alleged assault. The injury occurred when both her mother and the suspect held onto the child’s arms and legs simultaneously, pulling her in both directions.
Local police secured the child at the scene before transporting the man to the police station. Officers pieced together the sequence of events using testimony from passers-by and CCTV footage from inside the supermarket.
The dramatic footage shows the family – a mother, father and their one-year-old daughter – leaving the store through automatic doors as the man, wearing a black hoodie and green pants, enters. Within seconds of passing the family, the suspect takes hold of the young girl.
The toddler’s shocked father immediately jolts away from the shopping trolley he is pushing before attempting to intervene in the struggle. Mortified bystanders then jump in to help retrieve the child from the man’s grasp.
CCTV footage shows another girl with black hair looking on in confusion at the terrifying altercation unfolding in front of her. Moments later, security guards arrive and intervene in the scuffle, helping to hold down the man until police arrival.
Authorities rushed to the scene at the Bergamo supermarket following emergency calls about the attempted abduction. The child was taken to hospital shortly after being freed from the suspect’s grip, where medical staff diagnosed the fractured femur.
The homeless man currently faces serious charges that carry substantial prison sentences under Italian law. Aggravated kidnapping of a child under 14 combined with aggravated assault charges reflect the severity of the attack and the victim’s age and vulnerability.
Italian authorities continue their investigation into the incident whilst the suspect remains detained pending validation of his arrest by judicial authorities. The validation hearing will determine whether he continues to be held in custody whilst awaiting trial or if bail conditions might apply.
The toddler’s parents have not made public statements following the traumatic incident. The child’s recovery timeline from the fractured femur has not been disclosed by medical authorities treating her at the Bergamo hospital.
