A 34-year-old Italian train conductor was stabbed to death outside Bologna Centrale railway station on Monday evening, in a shocking attack that has stunned colleagues and sparked a police manhunt.
Authorities named the deceased as Alessandro Ambrosio, a Trenitalia train conductor based in the Bologna area. He was found unconscious with a fatal wound to the abdomen in a parking area reserved for station staff on Piazza Piazzale Ovest shortly before 19:00.
A colleague working for the competing rail operator Italo discovered Ambrosio’s body and called the Polizia Ferroviaria. Investigators from the Squadra Mobile, scientific police and the medical examiner were quickly on site.
Suspect identified, remains on the run
Police have identified a suspect through CCTV footage at the station. Reports state him to be 36-year-old Jelenic Marin, a Croatian national with a history of assaults in and around train stations. Authorities believe he fled the scene and could have boarded a train following the attack.
Initial investigations suggest the motive may not be robbery. Ambrosio’s wallet, phone and personal belongings were still on his body, leading police to look at other possible triggers for the attack.
Friends and co-workers have expressed deep shock at the killing. Those who knew Ambrosio described him as a dedicated professional.
Politicians and officials have also reacted. Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini expressed his “heartfelt solidarity” with Ambrosio’s family and colleagues and pledged action to increase security at stations and on the rail network. Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore described the crime as “gravissimo” — a grave act — underscoring the city’s concern over safety in and around the station.
The Sindacato Italiano Unitario Lavoratori Polizia (SIULP) has called for stronger protections for rail workers and the public, highlighting growing unease about safety in major railway hubs.
Police continue to canvass CCTV and pursue leads to locate the suspect. The case remains active with investigators urging anyone with information to come forward.
