Youths clash with Rome police near Colosseum in front of shocked tourists

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Birthday fireworks spark violent confrontation with police in front of Rome landmark. A birthday celebration beside the Colosseum descended into violence on Wednesday night, when a group of youths attacked a local police car in front of stunned tourists, in the latest disorder to hit a piazza that has become synonymous with crime, drug use and anti-social behaviour. The trouble began at around 22.00 at Largo Gaetana Agnesi - the terrace overlooking the ancient amphitheatre, located directly above the Colosseo Metro B subway station - when a 21-year-old Egyptian man set off four batteries of fireworks to mark his birthday. Residents alerted the local police, and when officers arrived to identify those responsible, they found themselves encircled by around 40 youths who obstructed the operation, leading to chaotic scenes. A police car was punched and kicked while an officer manoeuvred it back and forth to keep those inside safe. The youths were described by Italian media as "maranza" - a term associated mainly with Milan that has come to signify second-generation immigrant youth of north African descent. Viral footage Bystanders filmed the mayhem on their phones, and the footage was shared widely online. One viral clip, posted by Portuguese tourists who witnessed the scene, wrongly suggested that one of the fleeing suspects had seized control of the police vehicle, prompting a mocking caption claiming Italian police were the ones running away. Officers later clarified that the car was in fact being driven by a plain-clothes officer, who was moving it out of harm's way rather than pursuing anyone. #Roma Maranza senza freni al Colosseo: fuochi d’artificio lanciati ad altezza d’uomo, scatenato “ballo del coltello” con dei serramanico, poi l’auto dei vigili circondata da decine di persone. Tutto ripreso e rilanciato sui social dai turisti. pic.twitter.com/No6B1IT82L — Rai Radio1 (@Radio1Rai) July 2, 2026 Reinforcements from the state police and the Carabinieri were called in to restore order. Two officers were reportedly injured and taken to Santo Spirito hospital. In a statement, the Questura di Roma said a patrol car was slightly damaged during the chaos but insisted that no vehicle was ever stolen or taken from police control. By the end of the night, four people had been detained, including the birthday boy who faces charges of assault and resisting arrest, as well as for criminal damage and setting off fireworks illegally. Largo Agnesi The disorder at Largo Agnesi is not an isolated episode, with gangs of youths travelling to the piazza from the area around Termini station, using scooters or the metro, before fanning out across the city centre and returning late at night. The area has also seen late-night stabbings, routine thefts and pickpocketing targeting tourists who throng to the viewing point for panoramic views of the Colosseum. According to carabinieri patrols, who carry out nightly operations in the area, many of those stopped for identity checks are found carrying knives and hashish. Security debate Rome's local police command insisted that ordinary and extraordinary security patrols operate daily in the wider area around the Colosseum and Via dei Fori Imperiali, backed by soldiers deployed under the permanent "Strade Sicure" security operation, as well as dedicated checks at the two nearby metro stations. Despite these assurances, Wednesday night's disorder - unfolding metres from one of the world's most visited monuments - has reignited a security debate in Rome.