Cruise Tourist Attacks Raise Safety Concerns in Genoa

Two separate incidents involving cruise passengers in Genoa, Italy, have renewed concerns about safety in areas commonly visited by tourists arriving by ship.

The most recent incident took place on Wednesday morning, when a 14-year-old French girl was attacked near Via Gramsci, close to a metro station in Genoa’s historic center. The teenager had recently disembarked from a cruise ship with her family.

Italian media reported that the girl was punched in the face by a woman believed to be around 25 years old. The motive for the attack remains unclear. The victim suffered abrasions and was treated at the scene, but did not need to be taken to hospital. Authorities said the suspected attacker first ran away before returning to the area. She was later identified by the victim’s family and arrested after allegedly resisting police. Witnesses said the woman appeared to be in an agitated condition.

The attack follows another serious case in the same area, after police recently announced arrests linked to the violent robbery and sexual assault of two cruise tourists.

In that incident, an American man and a Colombian woman who arrived in Genoa by cruise ship in November 2025 were allegedly followed, surrounded and attacked near the Old Harbour and Via Gramsci in the early morning. Investigators said the woman was punched, knocked to the ground and sexually assaulted by two members of the group, while the man accompanying her was beaten and robbed.

Last month, police arrested eight suspects aged between 20 and 40. Investigators said the group included five Egyptian nationals, one of whom was reportedly in Italy illegally, and three Italian citizens. Italian media reported that many of the suspects were homeless, drug users and already known to local police, with some having previous criminal records.

Genoa remains one of Italy’s major cruise gateways, welcoming large numbers of cruise passengers every year. However, the two incidents have brought renewed attention to security issues in some areas around the port and historic center.

Most cruise visitors experience the city without problems, but the attacks have caused concern because both involved tourists soon after leaving cruise ships and occurred near routes often used by visitors exploring Genoa independently.