Occupied university in Turin, two writers fall from the roof: they are serious

Two men, both writers, were seriously injured this night, around 4, after falling from a height of at least ten meters while trying to create a mural on the facade of Palazzo Nuovo, home of the University of Turin, currently occupied by students. According to the police's reconstruction, the two, equipped with spray cans, had lowered themselves from the building secured to ropes, while a third man assisted them from the ground. The cables that were supposed to keep them safe gave way, causing the fall. The two were transported under code red to the CTO and San Giovanni Bosco. The police reported all three men, seriously suspected of defacing and soiling other people's property, invading buildings and land and interrupting public services.

According to the reconstruction of the carabinieri, the two writers had reached the external part of Palazzo Nuovo and had lowered themselves along the facade, secured with ropes. A third man, who remained on the ground, would have helped them in the operation. For reasons still under investigation, the ropes gave way and the two fell from a height of at least ten metres.

The health workers of the Turin Red Cross intervened on site, with two medical ambulances on behalf of the 118 of Azienda Zero. The Carabinieri of the Information Unit and the Mobile Radio Unit carried out the first investigations. Both injured people were rushed to hospital, initially under code red.

One of the two men was admitted to the CTO, where he suffered a fractured femur and rib fractures and underwent surgery. The prognosis is two months. The condition of the other injured person was more serious and was transported to San Giovanni Bosco and also underwent surgery in the operating room. According to initial information, neither of them is in danger of their lives.

At the end of the first investigations, the Carabinieri reported the three men involved in the episode, aged 35, 36 and 42 years old respectively, to the Turin Prosecutor's Office. They are seriously accused of defacing and soiling other people's property, invading buildings and land and interrupting public services. Investigations continue to reconstruct the dynamics of the accident in detail and ascertain responsibilities.

The two writers who were injured were taking part in the occupation of the Humanities Centre. This was confirmed by the students themselves, who in a note explain how the two had decided to make their artistic skills available to contribute to the layout of the occupied spaces. «These are two fellow writers who, like many others in recent days, have spontaneously decided to bring solidarity to the occupation and contribute to making this place more beautiful, livable, passable», the students write. In the statement they also underline that both had adopted safety devices and assure that the two boys are "out of danger and under control".

The occupants express "maximum solidarity and closeness" to the injured and reiterate that their protection remains a priority. "We will not allow what happened to call into question the validity of the occupation as a space for political and social participation by students and the university community," they add. The town meeting scheduled for today at 6pm has also been confirmed, in view of the general strike on November 20th.

«Following the serious accident that occurred during the night outside Palazzo Nuovo, the Rector is following the developments of the matter with the utmost attention, with particular attention to the health conditions of the injured people. The University is at the disposal of the competent authorities involved in reconstructing the facts."

University Minister Anna Maria Bernini also spoke on the matter with a post on Instagram: «Occupying means transforming a safe space into a dangerous place. Climbing the walls of the university to create graffiti does not only mean damaging the building, but putting your life and health at risk. When an occupation replaces the rules of the academic community, safety becomes an issue for everyone. Reopen Palazzo Nuovo."

The minister then attacked the occupiers, accusing them of denying the right to study to other students: "Occupying a university means taking away from others what they say they want to defend." And he recalled the suspended lessons, postponed exams and graduation sessions postponed due to the mobilization.

A delegation of Regno vice-rectors participated in a short assembly with students at Palazzo Nuovo. "We drew attention to security, asking for an end to the occupation but confirming our willingness to dialogue", they explain from the university. The delegation was then removed by the occupiers.

In the meantime, however, the first signs of demobilization can be seen in Palazzo Nuovo: some people are leaving the building taking away crates and sleeping bags.