Like many migrants in southern Europe, the Nigerian was selling goods on the street on Friday afternoon when he was suddenly chased, knocked to the ground and repeatedly beaten. His attacker also took his cell phone.
The incident happened in broad daylight in the middle of a busy shopping street in the center of the coastal town. Footage of the attack is circulating online, where voices can be heard in the background calling for the attack to stop.
The fact that no one intervened during the attack shocks many Italians. Some believe that the context would have been different if the victim had been white. According to the police, there is no indication that it was a racist attack. The victim allegedly demanded money from her attacker, triggering a violent reaction from the latter.
The Marche region, where the events took place, plans to file a civil action in the event of a trial.