Since Sunday, residents of Milan’s Corvetto and Ripamonti districts have taken to the streets to protest the death of 19-year-old Ramy Elgaml. The tragedy occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning when Elgaml, a passenger on a motorcycle driven by a 22-year-old friend, died following a crash during a police chase. Allegedly, the pair had evaded a police checkpoint, prompting the pursuit. Protesters blame the police for the incident, leading to demonstrations marked by burned dumpsters, damaged buses, and graffiti reading “Truth for Ramy.”
Authorities have launched an investigation, naming both the motorcycle driver and the officer involved in the chase as suspects. The 22-year-old driver has been arrested for resisting police and remains hospitalized, delaying his interrogation. Initial reports suggest Elgaml was not wearing a helmet, and the pursuit began far from the crash site, indicating it spanned much of the city. Investigators are awaiting autopsy results and surveillance footage to clarify the circumstances of the crash.
The unrest, however, has escalated. Tuesday night saw a 21-year-old protester arrested amid violent demonstrations in Corvetto. For the third consecutive night, protesters clashed with police, setting fires, damaging public property, and hurling projectiles. The protests have highlighted underlying tensions in Corvetto, a historically working-class neighborhood grappling with socio-economic challenges. While some residents expressed sympathy for the protesters, others criticized the unrest, pointing to the area’s multicultural demographics. Authorities have bolstered police presence, anticipating further clashes.
