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Man Arrested for Attempted Kidnapping of Toddler in Bergamo

Published 18 February 2026

A 37-year-old homeless man was arrested in Bergamo, northern Italy, after attempting to kidnap a 1-year-old girl from her mother outside an Esselunga supermarket on Saturday. Surveillance footage captured the incident, showing the man grabbing the toddler as the family exited the store, leading to a brief but intense struggle before bystanders intervened.

The video, reviewed by Italian State Police, depicts the mother and daughter walking hand-in-hand toward the automatic doors, with the father pushing a shopping cart just behind them. As they stepped outside, the suspect, dressed in a blue hoodie and green pants, approached quickly and reached for the child, attempting to pull her away and flee back into the store. The mother clung tightly to her daughter's arm, resisting the man's efforts. The struggle caused the mother to collide with a nearby sign and fall to the ground while still holding on. The father rushed forward to assist, and several shoppers and store employees quickly joined in, restraining the suspect near the entrance.

Italian State Police officers arrived shortly after and took the man into custody. Authorities charged him with attempted aggravated kidnapping,...

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