The chats of the 13-year-old, possibly recruited by extremist groups

A 13-year-old boy in Rome has been hospitalized after attacking a teacher with a knife at a middle school in Centocelle. According to police, the incident occurred during class when the boy approached the teacher and struck her in the left side. A video reportedly showing the moments before the attack was shared online, capturing the boy preparing in the school bathroom, wearing a helmet, gloves, and goggles typically used in soft air games. He carried two knives and an irritant spray, which he retrieved from his backpack. The footage shows him walking through the corridor toward the classroom, where another student intervened to prevent further harm. The boy had previously posted messages online warning others to watch the news later, according to sources. He had also created a countdown on social media prior to the incident. Investigators have obtained a forensic copy of his phone and are examining its contents to determine whether anyone encouraged or influenced him to commit the act. They are also checking the use of his parents’ credit card, which was used to purchase the weapons and other items found at the scene. Authorities are analyzing chats and online activity to reconstruct the events leading up to the attack and identify potential participants in the conversation. The boy is currently under psychiatric observation at the Neuropsichiatria Infantile e Disturbi del Neurosviluppo department of the Policlinico Umberto I hospital in Rome. Although he is too young to be held criminally responsible under Italian law, the Juvenile Court has opened an investigation and is considering civil measures aimed at rehabilitation. Possible actions include placing him under social services supervision, prescribing educational activities involving sports, art, or workshops, and possibly temporary placement in an educational community if his family environment is deemed unsuitable. Police suspect the boy might have been influenced by extremist groups operating online. According to classmates, he spent long hours on his computer and was interested in violent content. Investigators believe he could have been contacted by individuals promoting supremacist ideologies who provide guidance on how to carry out such attacks. These groups allegedly target vulnerable individuals and offer both psychological and operational support. Authorities are looking into four individuals who were following the live stream of the attack on Telegram. The victim, Isabella Marsilio, has since closed her Facebook profile, which received numerous critical comments regarding her far-right views. The boy’s main social media account, which had 4,332 followers, is now inactive. The video published by the boy in the chat shows him preparing for the attack, putting the knives in his pants, wearing green military gloves, holding the irritant spray, and donning the goggles before leaving the bathroom and heading down the hallway toward the classroom. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara emphasized the need for collaboration between schools and families to combat violence. He warned about the dangers posed by certain online channels and parts of the dark web. In the meantime, prosecutors have received information from the police and will open a file for injuries, even though the boy's age makes him legally non-responsible. The court will decide on appropriate rehabilitative measures based on documentation from the hospital, where the boy, identified as the sole child of his parents, is being treated. Possible options include placing him under social service care or temporarily relocating him to a community setting.