ROME - The trade unions for Trenitalia, Trenitalia, Trenitalia Tper, Fs Security, Italo Ntv, Trenord have gone on strike on Tuesday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. after a train conductor was stabbed whilst at work.

 According to the initial investigation, on board the regional train from Genova-Busalla, the train conductor, Rosario Ventura, asked for the tickets from Egyptian Fares Kamel Salem Alshahhat and a female partner he was with.

 It is alleged that Mr Alshahhat made his intention of not paying for the ticket clear, at which point the train stopped at the woman started to verbally abuse and spit at Mr Ventura. The woman is also accused of kicking and slapping. Once off the train, it has been alleged that 21-year-old Mr Alshahhat stabbed Mr Ventura. Mr Alshahhat has been arrested for aggravated assault and resisting a public official, and the woman, who was under 18, has been denounced for the same crimes.

 The trade union leaders have strongly denounced the crime of which Mr Ventura was a victim. They have called the attack the latest in a long line of “personal assaults” which have happened during the previous months. They have said that today’s strike is because there has been “no action to protect the employees, nor greater surveillance of the trains by the forces of law-and-order.”

 Luigi Sbarra, leader of the Cisl union has described the attack as “very serious. It is truly unacceptable that those who only work and do their duty every day should be subjected to these acts of unprecedented violence.” Condemnation also came from Luigi Corradi, CEO and managing director of Trenitalia: “From the outset we have been in close contact with the medical personnel who assisted him after the attack. We express our solidarity with our colleague and work daily to ensure the safety of workers and travellers.”

 Trains are still expected to run before 9 a.m. and between 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. although delays are expected.

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