Youth 'trend' leads to maxi-brawls

 ROME – Young Italians frustrated by Covid curfews and closures are using the social media ‘grapevine’ to arrange outdoor mass gatherings that are leading to violent brawls, police sources said on Monday.

 On Saturday, Carabinieri intervened in a maxi-brawl on the terrace of Pincio. Police in riot gear dispersed a crowd of some 300 youngsters, most without masks, after a fight reportedly broke out between two boys.

 Police believe the latest trend to hit Italy that calls on youngsters, including minors, to gather en-masse, is more than a protest against anti-Covid rules: the youths’ penchant for transgression is matched with a desire to 'show off' in an effort to earn social media followers and likes.

 According to Il Messaggero, the Pincio meeting gathered momentum after two girls, posting on Tik Tok, had promised to challenge each other on the Pincio terrace. But even though one of the girls pulled out citing “urgent personal reasons,” a fight broke out all the same.

 Also on Saturday, an estimated three thousand who came together to trade blows in the EUR district of Rome, dispersed as soon as Caribinieri arrived.

 Rome was not the only city in Italy to host large youth gatherings. In Cetona, Siena, many met in the main square – the gardens of piazza Garibaldi. In Bari, a rowdy group had gathered in the middle of the night in the alleys of the Umbertina area. Wreaking havoc on neighbours, they rang doorbells while filming their pranks on cell phones, which then spread on social media.

 It would appear there are many ways to circumvent Covid bans and restrictions. In recent weeks, there has been a rise in reports of parties in vacation rentals. One group of 14 youths from the Castelli Romani area had booked an apartment in Piazza Navona for the weekend of the Immaculate Conception. But late on Saturday night, blaring music woke neighbours, who alerted police. After bursting in, local police found the youths, including two minors, hidden in wardrobes, under beds and on the balconies.

 Meanwhile, in the latest Covid figures, Italy recorded 564 deaths, registering 18,887 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours.

 With the Rt (contagion index) down in all areas, Conte had previously said he expected most regions to drop to a ‘yellow’ rating by mid-December.

 Downgrading from the ‘high risk’ red to ‘medium risk’ orange colour rating are Campania, Toscana, Alto Adige and Bolzano. The last red region to make the shift is Abruzzo, which officially turns ‘orange’ Wednesday.

 Shifting yesterday from orange to ‘low risk’ yellow were Emilia Romagna, Friuli, Marche Puglia and Umbria.

 cc