A girl was stabbed in Salerno: the alleged attacker was arrested in Ariano Irpino.

Salerno – The hunt for the alleged perpetrator of the stabbing that injured a 23-year-old woman in the back of the head in Salerno on September 23 has ended in Ariano Irpino prison. The 57-year-old was located overnight in the Irpinia town. The Salerno Flying Squad, coordinated by the Prosecutor's Office, had already identified him: yesterday, the Police Headquarters released the images, asking anyone who recognizes him to come forward. He was arrested a few hours later.

The man, represented by his lawyer Domenico Carchia, denies the charges. "My client, whom I met last night, maintains his innocence," the lawyer told ANSA. "He was arrested last night. I still don't have any documents to provide more specific information." According to the reconstruction, after a lengthy interrogation at the police station, the Salerno prosecutor's office placed him under arrest on suspicion of attempted murder and transferred him to the Ariano prison.

On the evening of September 23rd

The attack occurred around 9:30 PM on Wednesday, September 23, in Largo San Tommaso d'Aquino, in Salerno's upper historic center. The woman, a resident of Baronissi and an employee at a nearby bar and pastry shop, said she was struck from behind while she was on the steps waiting for a video call. The man, she said, didn't ask for money or her phone, and didn't say a word. He kicked, punched, and stabbed her once or twice, then ran away.

The wound to the back of the head, on the left side, was seven centimeters long. The young woman was also hit in the hand, likely in an attempt to defend herself. Transported with critical care to the San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona hospital, she required transfusions and was discharged the next day with a 21-day prognosis.

His life wasn't in danger. He told investigators he recognized the face of a man he'd seen in the area, without knowing his name, and feared a mix-up. "I'm afraid to go down the street," he said.

The frames and the turning point

The investigation, entrusted to the Flying Squad and coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office headed by Raffaele Cantone, began with video surveillance footage near the staircase. The quality of the videos was poor, and the man was not registered in databases: no prior criminal record would allow for an immediate match. Yesterday, in consultation with the prosecutors, the Police Headquarters nevertheless released the footage and requested reports to the switchboard, the Pisacane barracks, or via the YouPol app.

The investigation was already underway. Yesterday afternoon, a local man was questioned at the Ariano Irpino police station. He was arrested overnight. The motive remains unclear: the victim has always claimed it was an unprovoked attack by an unknown assailant. The suspect, until proven otherwise, is innocent.