On New Year’s Eve, six students from Liège, Belgium, experienced terror instead of triumph as they were sexually assaulted during what was meant to be joyful celebrations at Milan’s iconic Piazza del Duomo. The group, composed of four girls and two boys, had traveled to celebrate the new year from December 30 to January 1. Excitement filled the air as they gathered at the piazza, only to be met with chaos.
According to local media reports, including 7sur7, the students, anticipating fireworks and festivities, found none at the main square. Instead, they faced dangerous behavior from local youths, with Laura, one of the victims, recalling, “We had the feeling of unease, as if something grave was about to happen.”
What started as a night to welcome 2025 quickly spiraled out of control. Unexpected firework displays shot off among the crowd alarmed many, causing panic and anxiety. “Young people were shooting fireworks at the crowd, and we felt there was going to be something serious,” Laura remarked. The festive atmosphere soured, transforming from excitement to fear.
Surrounded by throngs of party-goers—many identified as foreign nationals—the group moved toward the safety of nearby galleries. Unfortunately, they were encircled by 50 to 100 aggressive individuals, primarily described as foreign men. It was at this moment the nightmare began. "Three out of four girls were sexually assaulted. One friend was groped on her chest. There were touches on our backsides. Someone put their hand inside my pants. It went very far," Laura recounted.
The situation intensified as they struggled against their assailants, who were between 20 and 40 years old, shouting insults such as “vaffanculo Italia” and “polizia di merda,” expressing their disdain for the locals and authorities. “We tried slapping and kicking, but it was impossible. We were helpless,” Laura stated. Amid the tumult, several bystanders reportedly attempted to intervene. An Italian man, who also witnessed the assault on his wife, managed to help Laura escape the overwhelming crowd.
After enduring 10 minutes of terror, the group finally found their way to the police for assistance. To their shock, authorities dismissed their pleas for help. “They clearly told us it wouldn't help and waved us off with ‘ciao’,” Laura recalled. This nonchalant response only added to their trauma, highlighting the inadequacies faced when seeking help from law enforcement.
Back home, Laura was treated for psychological and emotional distress at the CHU of Liège. She expressed her resolve to take legal action to report the incident, emphasizing, “I cannot let this go. I thought such things only happened in movies. I want to denounce these acts to prevent others from experiencing the same.”
This incident echoes past events recognized during New Year’s celebrations, particularly recalling the horrifying assaults reported during the Cologne festivities of 2016. Media outlets, including SudInfo, noted the grim parallels between the experiences of the Belgian students and those earlier incidents, shedding light on the troubling trends of unaddressed sexual assaults during large public events.
It's important to highlight prior occurrences at the same site; during New Year celebrations of 2022, nine women reported being sexually assaulted by groups of young men, sparking outrage and calls for increased safety measures by local authorities.
Despite the chilling experiences faced by these students, their stories shine light on the urgent need for community support and effective law enforcement response during large gatherings. The incident serves as a painful reminder of the vulnerabilities individuals can face when proper precautions and protections are not enforced.