A video filmed earlier today (Tuesday) in central Rome has gone viral on social media, capturing a bizarre and embarrassing incident: a Carabinieri patrol car struck both a police officer and an African migrant as the officer was attempting to arrest the man.
The incident took place on Via della Conciliazione, the wide avenue leading to St. Peter's Square near the Vatican. According to the video, apparently filmed by a tourist, a lone officer was trying to detain a man of African origin on the roadway.
A Carabinieri patrol car arrived at speed to assist, but the driver failed to brake in time and struck both men, sending them to the ground.
The video shows the tense moments: the officer and the man on the pavement, the patrol car stopping abruptly, and additional officers rushing to help. Remarkably, neither man was seriously hurt.
The officer who was hit managed to get up on his own and continue functioning, and the migrant also did not suffer serious injuries. A second patrol car braked in time and prevented further escalation.
The video quickly racked up tens of thousands of views and was shared by multiple news accounts. As of now, there are no detailed official statements from the Carabinieri or Italian police authorities regarding the circumstances of the arrest or any possible internal investigation of the driver. The exact reason for the migrant's detention has not been released.
