An 18-year-old student of Egyptian origin has died after a school stabbing in La Spezia on Friday. His death has sparked urgent debate over school safety.
The attack took place at the Istituto Professionale “L. Einaudi – D. Chiodo” around late morning. According to police reports, a dispute between two students over sentimental reasons escalated violently. The victim, identified as Youssef Abanoub, was first confronted in the school toilets and then pursued into a classroom, where he was stabbed in the side.
Emergency services responded swiftly, and Abanoub was taken to the Sant’Andrea Hospital in critical condition. He suffered massive blood loss and experienced cardiac arrest before doctors were able to perform emergency surgery. Despite these efforts, he died later in the evening in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
The alleged attacker, an 18- or 19-year-old classmate of foreign origin, was immediately detained by police at the scene and has been arrested on suspicion of murder. The long kitchen knife used in the attack was recovered and is now evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Reactions to school stabbing
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara described the incident as an event of “absolute gravity”, stressing that violence has no place in schools and expressing his deep condolences to the victim’s family, classmates and school staff.
The tragedy has renewed debate over safety measures in Italian schools. Some political figures have called for stricter controls on weapons and more robust security policies, particularly around preventing knives and similar objects from entering educational institutions.
Classmates gathered outside the hospital as news of the victim’s condition and subsequent death spread. Local authorities continue to piece together details of the encounter that led to this fatal attack.
