13-year-old student sprays pepper spray and stabs teacher in Rome

In a middle school in the Centocelle area of Rome, a 13-year-old student sprayed pepper spray in the face of a teacher and then stabbed her with a knife on the morning of September 18, 2026, according to ANSA. The incident prompted a call to the emergency number 112 and mobilized police and medical responders.

What happened — school in Rome, attack on a teacher

On the morning of September 18, 2026, at a high school located in Centocelle, Rome, a 13-year-old student sprayed pepper spray at a teacher and then attacked her with a knife. The incident occurred inside the classroom and was immediately reported to emergency services via the number 112, according to ANSA.

According to the agency, the aggressor was 13 years old and the action was quick, causing panic among classmates and teachers. The case adds to other episodes raising debates about safety in Italian schools and interventions in school environments, topics the portal covers in its Italy News.

Intervention and victim’s condition — rescue and containment

When activated, officers from the Stazione di Centocelle dei Carabinieri and 118 emergency services arrived at the scene and provided assistance. The injured teacher was rescued and taken for medical treatment; she was in a state of shock, but, according to ANSA, not in life-threatening danger.

The assault was contained thanks to the intervention of a classmate, who managed to restrain the student and prevent the situation from worsening. Sources cited by the press say the attacker was kept on site until the authorities arrived. The episode rekindles discussions about safety and prevention in schools, a topic also present in reports on school life and education in Italy and in coverage of Life in Italy.

Additional elements and repercussions — Telegram, background, and reactions

Preliminary investigations indicated the student owned a cellphone connected to Telegram; reportedly, he attempted to record the action via a live video call. The presence of the device and the attempt at real-time transmission are elements authorities are examining in the inquiry led by the Procura per i Minorenni.

The coverage also links the incident to a similar episode that occurred in March 2026 near Bergamo, when a teacher was stabbed by a 13-year-old student and was also saved by a classmate, per Italian press reports. The comparison of the cases has reinforced calls for preventive measures and emergency protocols in schools.

The Minister of Education, Giuseppe Valditara, immediately phoned the principal of the institute, Wanda Giacomini, of the Istituto "Giovanni Verga" in Rome, to express solidarity with the victim and the school community, ANSA reported. The ministry’s official communication, cited by the press, highlighted support for families and the affected teaching staff.

Two fascicoli were opened by the prosecutors’ office for minors in relation to the episode; mentions appear in updates linked to the case reporting, according to ANSA. Investigations continue to determine motivation, exact sequence of events, any premeditation, and circumstances surrounding possession of the knife and pepper spray.

Context and public debates

The attack rekindles debates about safety in Italian schools, mobile device use in classrooms, and digital channels like Telegram in episodes of violence. Experts, parents, and authorities are calling for a revision of surveillance protocols, prevention, and psychological support for victims and school communities. Previous portal and Italian news coverage of similar cases and institutional responses can be found in our Citizenship in Italy section and in Italy News.

The quick response of classmates and the rapid arrival of rescue forces were cited as crucial in limiting the severity of the attack, according to press reports.

Conclusion: the Centocelle attack in Rome on the morning of September 18, 2026 left a teacher injured but not life-threatening, and prompted investigations by the Procura per i Minorenni. The episode intensifies public debate over school safety, mobile device use, and the circulation of content on platforms like Telegram, while investigations continue.

Source: ANSA