Bishop Augusto Mascagna condemns violence against girl in Pescia

Bishop Augusto Mascagna of Pescia and Pistoia condemned the recent violent attack on a girl in Pescia, stating that the Church must denounce evil and stand with victims. In a note released by the Diocese of Pistoia, Mascagna expressed the grief of the diocesan community and offered closeness to the victim and her family.

Police arrested a 38-year-old man from the Dominican Republic in connection with the assault, which involved allegations of torture and attempted sexual violence. Investigators report that the girl met the man near the Pescia riverbanks, but the situation escalated after she rejected him. According to police, the man pushed the girl into the water to perform a controlled drowning to break her resistance. The assault continued on the shore, where the girl was reportedly struck on the legs with stones and a belt and suffered cigarette burns to her face.

A passerby alerted emergency services after hearing the girl's cries for help. Although the suspect fled before police arrived, investigators identified and detained him. He is currently held in the Pistoia prison awaiting judicial proceedings. Mascagna emphasized that no logic of possession or dominance can justify such violence, which he described as a grave offense to human dignity.