Milan Student Assault
Milan prosecutor investigates alleged group sexual assault of Spanish Erasmus student
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A 20-year-old Spanish Erasmus student was allegedly gang-raped by four to five men in Milan in the early hours of May 23, 2026, after being lured out of a nightclub on Via Corelli in the city's eastern outskirts. Swissinfo reported that the Milan Prosecutor's Office officially opened a criminal investigation on June 8, confirming the case to the public.
The victim, whose identity is protected under Italian law, managed to contact a friend after the assault and was taken by taxi to Milan's Mangiagalli Clinic, which operates a dedicated Sexual and Domestic Violence Emergency Service. Investigators from the Squadra Mobile — the police's specialist unit — are now reviewing CCTV footage and DNA evidence to identify the suspects, according to El Periódico de Aragón.
How the Attack Unfolded at a Milan Nightclub
The student arrived at "The Beach" club with a female friend on the evening of May 22. Inside, she met a young man who, according to her statement, persuaded or forced her to leave the venue for a secluded area nearby, according to La Provincia.
Once outside, the man was joined by four or five others. The victim was allegedly assaulted first in the outdoor area and then inside a parked car. After the attack, she reached her friend and the two took a taxi directly to the Mangiagalli Clinic's emergency service for violence victims, Levante EMV reported.
Milan Prosecutors Focus on DNA and Security Cameras
The case is being led by Letizia Mannella, head of Milan's Fifth Department for Vulnerable Victims. The Squadra Mobile is working to reconstruct the full sequence of events. Investigators are analyzing biological samples and digital forensics to name the suspects, who remain unidentified as of June 9, according to La Opinión de Zamora.
The Spanish Consulate in Milan is reportedly providing consular support to the victim's family. Spanish and Italian police cooperation is expected if any suspect is found to have left Italian territory, according to El Periódico de Extremadura.
Milan's Security Debate Flares Ahead of Winter Olympics
The assault comes amid rising concern over safety in Milan. In the ten days before this case broke publicly, a model was attacked near Porta Romana on June 7 and a man was killed at Certosa station on May 27. With Milan set to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, pressure is growing to add more CCTV cameras and increase patrols in peripheral nightlife zones like Via Corelli.
Milan's Mayor Beppe Sala warned against using the case for political gain, saying: "None of us, myself first and foremost, is downplaying the situation... but it is a problem throughout our country." Right-wing parties, including Lega, have used the incident to demand tougher policing, turning the case into a flashpoint in Italy's broader security debate.
Italy's Sexual Violence Law Faces Fresh Scrutiny
This case may also test a controversial sexual violence bill debated in Italy in early 2026. Critics, including Human Rights Watch, argue the new text requires victims to show "explicit refusal" rather than focusing on the absence of consent. In group assault cases where psychological pressure replaces physical force, that standard could make prosecution harder.
The scale of underreporting in Italy makes cases like this especially significant. According to ISTAT data, only 11.8% of sexual violence incidents in Italy are formally reported to police. In 2024, reported cases rose 6% to 6,587 — a figure experts say reflects only a fraction of actual incidents.
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