In a shocking incident outside a McDonald's on Corso Lodi in Milan, a group of three delivery riders was attacked by a group of young assailants. Rizwan A., a 30-year-old delivery rider of Pakistani descent, was stabbed in the shoulder and required hospitalization, while his two colleagues were assaulted with pepper spray. This incident highlights the growing violence and lack of safety faced by gig economy workers in urban areas.

The attack occurred on a Friday evening as the riders were waiting for their orders, when they were suddenly approached by a group of three teenagers. Rizwan described the assault as being aimed purely at inflicting harm on defenseless individuals without any provocation. The authorities are now searching for the attackers, who are believed to be of North African descent and fled the scene towards Corvetto, raising concerns about safety in the region.

This incident not only sheds light on the vulnerability of delivery riders but also raises alarms about escalating youth violence in urban Italy. As authorities ramp up their efforts to locate the aggressors, there is a pressing need for increased protections for gig workers and measures to address the root causes of such aggressive behavior in society.