Priest Stabbed to Death Near His Parish in Italy

Case information
Incident date
Country
Italy
Place
Como
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • (Attempted) Homicide
  • Physical Violence
Religious Freedom / Discrimination
  • Other (text field)
Place of Incident
  • Public Street
Bias Indicators
  • Pattern or Frequency of Attacks
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Vatican News

On the 15th September in Como, Roberto Malgesini, a 51-year-old priest was found dead from knife wounds in the vicinity of his parish. He was known for his devotion to the migrants, homeless people, and those who are in difficult situations. The priest was stabbed several times in a street near the Church of St. Rocco, including one to the neck. The attacker, a 53-year-old man from Tunisia, turned himself in to the police. The man suffered from a mental illness and was known by Malgesini. Malgesini had taken care of him in the parish. On the same morning, the priest was going to bring breakfast for the homeless.

Sources