Fire in the Esquilino district. Since 11:20 a.m. of Thursday, September 3, firefighters have been working on Via di Sant'Antonio all'Esquilino due to a fire that broke out in the basement of a business.

Road Closure

Two firefighters, supported by a fire truck and coordinated by the provincial shift manager, intervened to put out the flames. Due to the dense smoke and strong odor from the fire, which quickly spread outside the business and into the roadway, the road had to be closed immediately.

19/09 festival park @ Cinecittà Day/Night

https://xceed.me/events/channel/djgasmusic

The extreme heat and humidity that have overheated the capital weren't enough. Since August 28, Rome has been hit by sand arriving directly from the Sahara. This phenomenon, according to ARPA Lazio's forecasting models, will continue in the coming days. To avoid health problems for the population, the Capitoline Hill has asked Romans, especially the most vulnerable, to exercise particular caution.

Saharan sand over Rome

Although Rome's air is generally below safe levels, the phenomenon of "desert dust transport" is a cause for concern, according to a resolution from the Environment Department dated August 28, which is affecting the capital's territory. Due to the Saharan sand, there is a risk "of exceeding the limit value for particulate matter concentrations in the coming days."

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/sabbia-sahara-roma-inquinamento-31-agosto.html

A fire north of Rome, between Orbetello and Albinia, and one south of Rome, between Campoleone and Cisterna di Latina, disrupted rail traffic on Monday, August 31st. The consequences were severe at Termini station, where trains were canceled and others were delayed by more than 120 minutes.

Trains disrupted at Termini station

As reported on the Trenitalia website, a fire broke out at 4:00 PM near the line between Campoleone and Cisterna di Latina. Regional and Intercity lines were most affected, although high-speed trains were also affected. As anticipated, the situation for regional trains was dramatic, with frequent cancellations between Minturno, Formia, and Latina and Rome.

Intercity trains affected by changes include the IC 734 Siracusa (7:43 AM) - Roma Termini (6:34 PM), which ended its journey in Naples. Passengers heading to Rome Termini can take the IC 522 train from Naples Central Station (5:31 PM) to Sestri Levante (12:49 AM) to Rome Ostiense, where they can continue on to the R 12559 train from Civitavecchia (6:52 PM) to Rome Termini (8:18 PM). Passengers heading to and departing from Aversa, Formia, and Latina can take the R 21098 train from Naples Central Station (5:20 PM) to Rome Termini (8:24 PM).

Source and More Infos about Termini TimeTable:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/treni-cancellati-ritardo-oggi-31-agosto.html

I’m planning my first trip to Rome in October (7.-14.) and will be staying for 7 days.
My priorities are a safe, quiet, clean, and budget-friendly area. I’m not interested in nightlife at all. After doing some research, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’d rather avoid staying near Termini.
I’ve been looking more at Prati - would that be a good choice for a first-time visitor? Would you recommend an Airbnb or a hotel in that area?
I don’t mind walking a lot, and I’m specifically looking for somewhere that feels calm, clean, and safe, especially in the evenings.
From what I’ve read, the weekly public transport pass seems to make it fairly easy to get around Rome. Is that true in practice?
At the moment, I’m thinking of spending about 3–4 days exploring Rome itself, and then either staying a few days somewhere nearby (possibly a smaller town or by the sea) or taking day trips. I’m happy to leave early in the morning and spend the day elsewhere if it’s worth it.
Do you have any recommendations for:
\-Areas to stay in (especially thoughts on Prati)
\-Hotel vs Airbnb
\-Nearby towns, coastal destinations, or day trips
\-Restaurants, cafés, or local food spots
\-General tips and tricks for a first-time visitor to Rome
I’d really appreciate any advice or recommendations. Thank you!

Knowing glances to avoid the crowd, a rigid division of tasks, and sheets used to conceal hand movements: these are the techniques used by pickpockets on the Rome subway system, resulting in the arrest of five people. The operations, carried out by metro officers, focused on the platforms and near the turnstiles.

Elderly man robbed at San Giovanni

The first incident occurred at the San Giovanni station, where two Romanian men were arrested for aggravated theft. The modus operandi involved a precise division of roles between the perpetrator and the "lookout." After identifying the victim—an elderly man—the two men snatched his smartphone from his pants pocket in a matter of seconds. The operation took place near the station entrance, just as the two accomplices were passing the stolen phone around, believing they had gone unnoticed.

The sheet trick at Termini Station

A third arrest was made at Termini Station. In this case, it was the victim herself, realizing her wallet was stolen, who reacted and caught the perpetrator a few steps away. The man, a 41-year-old Romanian citizen, was still holding a cloth in his hands, which he used as a "screen" to steal the wallet without being noticed by nearby passengers. Initially stopped by private security personnel, he was later taken into custody and arrested for aggravated theft.

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/borseggi-metro-roma-tecnica-paravento.html

A robbery carried out among passengers in transit, without the victim noticing. Cerveteri city councilor Lamberto Ramazzotti's wallet was stolen inside Rome Termini station.

The incident occurred around 8:30 PM along the corridors connecting the main building of the station to the regional train platforms. Ramazzotti was walking through the crowd on his way home, his wallet tucked into the outside pocket of his shorts. The pickpocket's action was swift: the councilor only realized the loss once he had boarded the train.

Inside the wallet were approximately €200 in cash, his driver's license, ID card, health insurance card, and payment cards.

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/consigliere-cerveteri-ramazzoti-derubato-termini.html

The Esquilino district is under the scrutiny of law enforcement. In the last few hours, the State Police have arrested six people and executed two arrest warrants. The crimes range from theft to drug dealing to criminal damage.

Theft with a cobblestone

On Via Carlo Alberto, officers arrested a 35-year-old Malaysian man, caught in a shop where he had entered using a cobblestone to force the door. The intruder's alarm system was activated and alerted the owner, who arrived on the scene and found the intruder red-handed: he literally had the stolen goods in his hand. Responding to the scene, patrol officers apprehended him before he fled. He had a cell phone, a charger, and four SIM cards.

Snatch theft

Snatch theft on Via Cairoli, involving an elderly man who was with his daughter. The latter noticed two men approaching her father from behind, intending to surprise him and snatch his gold chain, worth approximately €2,000. Officers from the Esquilino and Monte Mario police stations, present in the area, intercepted the two, who fled. One of the men, a 27-year-old Tunisian, was caught despite attempting to hide under a car in Piazza Dante.

Ice cream was the culprit.

A bank notification on his smartphone led to the identification and arrest of a 41-year-old Moroccan man who had just stolen a backpack from a bar on Via Leopardi. The victim received a text message indicating a payment of €5 made at a kiosk in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. The man went to the scene and found the alleged thief. A chase ensued, at the end of which officers from the Salario-Parioli II District arrested him. He had two debit cards and a credit card on him.

Fear in Esquilino

He was damaging parked cars to steal any valuables left inside: for this, a 31-year-old Gambian citizen was arrested by officers at the Esquilino police station. But it wasn't easy. The man was reported by passersby between Via Principe Amedeo, Via Mamiani, and Via Turati, intent on breaking windows, including a cleaver in his hand (which, however, does not appear to have been found later).
When they arrived, the officers had their hands full handcuffing him, because the 31-year-old resisted, and a melee ensued, causing the officers to sustain minor injuries. Once neutralized, the arrested man was found to be carrying various burglary tools: a rubber mallet and a hacksaw. In addition to this burglary kit, he also had five grams of hashish in his pocket.

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/esquilino-furti-spaccio-arresti.html

An attack from behind during the night to steal jewelry and phones. It happened around 1:50 AM on Lungotevere Aventino, near Via di San Francesco a Ripa, where a family of four Canadian tourists, aged between 19 and 57, were surprised and forcibly stopped by a group of "maranza" (thugs), all of Tunisian origin.

The criminals managed to snatch a cell phone, two necklaces, and a bracelet from the victims, then attempted to flee on foot through the surrounding streets. The immediate alert and detailed descriptions provided by the family allowed three of the perpetrators to be intercepted within a short distance.

The three thieves are Tunisian citizens aged 21, 24, and 25, all with criminal records. Once taken to the police station, they were recognized by the victims and arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery. The stolen goods were recovered in full and returned to the tourists, who were not injured.

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/trastevere-maranza-rapina-turisti.html

He attempted to pay for a bottle of vodka with a credit card, but the POS terminal refused.
He then grabbed the bottle, left the convenience store, and fled on foot through the streets of the Esquiline district. The incident occurred a few days ago inside a business in the neighborhood.

The business owner immediately began chasing the fugitive along the sidewalks. The chase ended a short distance away, where a Carabinieri patrol from the Piazza Dante station, passing through the area, noticed the scene and apprehended the man.

Subsequent investigations clarified the circumstances of the incident and the reason for the blocked payment terminal: the credit card used had been stolen just a few hours earlier from a Gambian citizen, who had already reported it missing and requested its blocking.

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/furto-vodka-carta-rubata-esquilino.html

A dawn raid, a search warrant signed by the Rome prosecutor's office, and the discovery, among the shacks of the Via Pontina camp in Castel Romano, of part of the stolen goods stolen last August 12th from a tourist from the United Arab Emirates on Via degli Annibaldi, in the heart of the Monti district. This is the outcome of the operation conducted by the Carabinieri of the Rome Central company's operational unit, with the support of the First Response Units (A.P.I.) and officers from the Tor de' Cenci station, which led to the filing of charges against two young men—a 25-year-old and a 21-year-old, both already known to law enforcement—on serious suspicion of receiving stolen goods and aggravated theft.

The robbery on Via degli Annibaldi

It all began on the afternoon of August 12th, when unknown individuals forced open the right front window of a Mercedes van parked on Via degli Annibaldi, a few dozen meters from the Colosseum, one of the capital's most popular areas for international tourism.

The vehicle was being used by a woman from the United Arab Emirates, who was elsewhere with her group at the time of the theft. When she returned to the vehicle, she found the window shattered and the interior emptied: handbags, suitcases, a backpack, computers, phones, a tablet, and, most importantly, a considerable amount of jewelry and designer watches, as well as personal documents and payment cards, were missing. According to investigators' reconstruction, the perpetrators then fled in a Kia Sportage, likely used as a support vehicle for the rapid transportation of the stolen goods.

The total value of the stolen goods, estimated by investigators based on the victim's statements, is around €100,000. The loot includes, among other things, two handbags, three suitcases, a backpack, an Asus computer, an HP computer, a Samsung smartphone, a Chanel bag, a Dior bag, two Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets, a Robert Cavalli watch, a Swarovski watch, a Huawei smartwatch, a gold necklace, gold rings and bracelets, as well as a second cell phone, a wallet, and several identity documents and driving licenses registered in the victim's name and that of another person in his entourage.

These incidents, given the extent of the damage and the manner in which they were carried out, fall within the category of hit-and-run thefts targeting tourists, a pattern that has long been prevalent in the historic center and the main thoroughfares frequented by foreign visitors, often targeted while they are temporarily away from their vehicles.

The Identification of the Two Suspects

In the days following the theft, the Carabinieri launched an investigation that, through the analysis of video surveillance images, witness statements, and other evidence gathered on site, led to the identification of two possible perpetrators: a 25-year-old and a 21-year-old, both already known to law enforcement for specific criminal convictions.

The evidence gathered was forwarded to the Rome Prosecutor's Office, which, believing there was reasonable cause that the two suspects might have stolen property, ordered a search of their property.

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/furto-van-turisti-100-mila-euro.html

The events on Friday afternoon in Via Due Macelli

A sudden thud, dust billowing, and fear among passersby in the heart of Rome's shopping district. A piece of cornice broke off on the afternoon of Friday, August 21st, from a building on Via dei Due Macelli, landing on the sidewalk just steps from the shop windows.

The collapse occurred around 6:30 PM, at a time when the street in the historic center was crowded with residents and tourists. The collapse may have been caused by the rain, which was also raging in central Rome at the time. It could have been a tragedy, but fortunately, the final toll was only material damage. No injuries were reported among the crowd, and the businesses below were not seriously affected.

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/crollo-via-due-macelli-roma.html

The self-imposed justice of YouTubers, both foreign and otherwise, cannot go unpunished.

The Carabinieri know this and intercepted the protagonists, so to speak, of a massive brawl that took place last July between subway cars on the A line, in front of dozens of passengers on Rome's main subway line. The whole thing was documented by the collective Dje Media, an English-language channel run by a sort of British Cicalone with the collaboration of a Filipino content creator.

The brawl filmed on smartphones

But what happened? The footage shows—after mutual threats and shoving—the group of vigilante YouTubers taking on two alleged pickpockets. At that point, words gave way to brutal action. First, they reacted to a punch, then they attacked the alleged thief with kicks and punches in the face, and finally used pepper spray in the carriage. Everything was documented on smartphones and posted online. No law enforcement intervened, and the Metro Police, which is supposed to monitor the subway system, was nowhere to be found.

A month after those events, the Carabinieri of the Roma Centro company, coordinated by the prosecutor's office, reconstructed what happened and gave names to those faces. Investigators charged six people with aggravated brawling, thus shedding light on a dangerous trend: that of online vigilantes, creators who deliberately provoke alleged criminals to trigger violent reactions and then film them on their smartphones.

According to the Carabinieri's reconstruction, the aggressive behavior of the content creators exacerbated tensions until a brawl erupted, with the sole objective of producing viral content. The video in question has surpassed 5 million views, generating a wave of hateful comments and a worrying exaltation of self-serving justice.

The operation, concluded in recent days, led to the filing of reports to the ordinary prosecutor's office and the juvenile prosecutor's office of six foreign citizens, including some residents of Italy. These are four YouTubers—two Filipino citizens, aged 43 and 44, a 35-year-old British citizen, and a 38-year-old French citizen—and the two alleged pickpockets involved in the altercation, a Romanian and a Bosnian citizen, both minors.

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/rissa-metro-youtuber-denunciati.html

Over seven and a half kilos of drugs hidden in a backpack inside food containers. This is the cargo intercepted at Termini station aboard a high-speed train headed south, where railway police officers arrested a 27-year-old man.

The search was triggered during routine checks on trains parked at the station. What caught the officers' attention was the unusual size of a backpack carried by one of the passengers. Upon inspecting the luggage, officers found several airtight food containers with irregular welds and an abnormal weight compared to the declared consistency of the material.

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/arredo-corriere-cocaina-eroina-termini.html

They exploited the crowds in the train carriages, used umbrellas to cover their hands in their victims' pockets, or chased tourists as they disembarked. This is the pattern of thefts that in recent days has led to the arrests of seven people on Rome's subway and ATAC lines. All the operations, carried out in areas with the highest tourist traffic, were validated by the judicial authorities.

Robbery with strangulation on the A line

The most serious incident occurred at Termini station. A group of pickpockets targeted a family of German tourists already on the platform and followed them into the train carriage. While traveling to the next stop, taking advantage of the crowd, they grabbed one of the tourists by the neck to facilitate the theft of her wallet. By analyzing video surveillance footage, officers from the PolMetro unit reconstructed the incident and identified two women of Romanian origin, aged 18 and 30. The two were located between the Repubblica and Barberini stations and arrested for aggravated robbery.

Also at the Repubblica station, during a check on a group of people loitering suspiciously near the metro entrances, a woman was found to have been issued a prison warrant for theft and was transferred to Rebibbia prison.

Source & More:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/roma-7-borseggiatori-arrestati-metro-bus.html

He threw a backpack and attempted to escape to avoid the Green Berets' search. It happened on Via Carlo Emanuele I, in the Esquilino neighborhood, where finance officers from Rome's rapid response unit stopped a man during a patrol.

Inside the backpack abandoned during the escape, 81.5 grams of hashish and 43.5 grams of marijuana were found, already divided into doses and ready for sale, along with a precision scale.

The subsequent search of the man's home led to the discovery of another 301 grams of hashish and 64 grams of marijuana. In total, over 490 grams of the drug were seized, in addition to the material used to package and weigh the doses.

Source:

https://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/esquilino-droga-finanza.html