The Comitato San Jacopino has reported a violent street clash involving two rival gangs armed with baseball bats and belts in the San Jacopino neighborhood of Florence. The incident, described by the residents’ committee as “urban guerrilla warfare,” occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Viale Redi, with participants allegedly belonging to North African and South American groups.
Gangs clash with bats and belts on Viale Redi
According to reports from the Comitato Cittadini Attivi San Jacopino, the confrontation involved two groups who attacked one another using baseball bats and belts while running through the streets. The violence extended beyond the main thoroughfare, as the committee stated some participants entered a garden on Via Maragliano. The noise and shouting from the brawl prompted local residents to look out from their homes to witness the event.
Residents demand permanent security presence in San Jacopino
Representatives of the residents’ committee stated that the neighborhood’s situation is now “out of control,” citing a pattern of continuous brawls, micro-criminality, and chronic urban decay. While the committee expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their prompt interventions, they argued that occasional patrols and emergency responses are no longer sufficient to ensure safety.
The group is calling for a permanent security outpost in the district and rigorous commercial inspections regarding the sale of alcohol. To address recidivism and dangerous individuals, the committee is requesting the establishment of a “red zone” and the inclusion of the neighborhood in the “safe streets” (strade sicure) evening and night patrol service.
Community warns against bureaucratic delays
The Comitato San Jacopino directed its demands toward the municipal administration and the prefecture, stating that bureaucratic responses and further delays will not be tolerated. The committee characterized their effort not as a temporary protest, but as a demand for legality that will continue until “real and lasting results” are achieved.
Community leaders stated that the safety of San Jacopino is “not negotiable” and indicated a readiness to organize further public assemblies and peaceful mobilizations to pressure authorities for immediate concrete action.
Related reading
