An 85-year-old volunteer at a soup kitchen in Empoli, Italy, was brutally assaulted by a homeless Nigerian man he had regularly served meals to.Antonio Turrisi, who volunteers with the Misericordia organization, was attacked outside the Emmaus soup kitchen on November 14, 2025.
The 40-year-old Nigerian suspect, a regular at the facility, punched and kicked him repeatedly without warning.
A passerby intervened to stop the beating.
Turrisi suffered life-threatening injuries, including damage that required emergency surgery to remove his spleen.
He spent more than five months in hospital and was discharged recently.
He now requires a walker and is unable to walk independently.
The attacker was arrested shortly afterward and charged with attempted murder. He is currently in prison.
In recent statements after returning home, Turrisi said he nearly died and called for stronger measures against foreigners who commit violent crimes in Italy, stating they should not be allowed to remain if they do not behave lawfully.
Surveillance footage captured the unprovoked nature of the assault.
