Florence: gas cylinder with wires found in Piazzale Michelangelo, bomb disposal experts judge it harmless

A gas cylinder was found under the statue of David in Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence, one of the city's scenic destinations. The discovery was made around 7.30 by an employee of Alia Servizi Ambientali, the waste management company. The operator gave the alarm to the single emergency number 112. Carabinieri and bomb squad patrols were on site. The videos from the cameras are being examined by investigators. The cylinder has a round object on the outside and some wires protruding. Meanwhile, in the first phase of the emergency, Viale dei Colli, which leads to Piazzale Michelangelo, remained closed until 10 am in the accesses from Piazza Ferrucci and, on the opposite side, from Piazzale Galileo (Poggio Imperiale area) with traffic diversions.

The cylinder "was deemed harmless" following a check by the Carabinieri bomb squad. The cylinder, one of the kitchen ones, had no gas and could not explode. The intervention has been concluded, safety conditions have been restored and the area has been reopened to the circulation of pedestrians and vehicles. However, the Carabinieri have started investigations to reconstruct the story and establish the reasons for the presence of the cylinder in Piazzale Michelangelo and to identify who abandoned it.