Marrakech: "Attempted murder", the chilling account of the Italian writer mowed down by a motorcycle

The morning of November 28th was supposed to mark the start of an excursion to Essaouira, but it turned into a crime scene just steps away from Jemaa el-Fna square. Two individuals speeding on a motorcycle rammed into the author to snatch her bag. The violence of the impact brutally threw her to the ground, causing her to lose consciousness under the eye of a surveillance camera from a neighboring business.

The evacuation to the hospital revealed the seriousness of her injuries: a concussion and a deep head wound requiring stitches. Amidst the pain, Nicoletta Bortolotti describes exemplary medical teams and a doctor who stitched her head with an "unforgettable smile". However, the ordeal continued at the airport: deprived of her stolen passport during the attack, the airline refused her boarding, forcing her on an administrative journey to the Casablanca consulate to obtain a laissez-passer.

Faced with this isolated violence, the victim describes a moving popular reaction. Merchants, drivers, residents and even a homeless person mobilized to rescue her and apologize on behalf of their country. The police have since arrested the assailants, who face a heavy indictment for attempted murder. Despite the shock, the Italian woman refuses revenge and hopes for a justice that punishes without destroying the future of these young people, stating that the compassion she received was "stronger than the pain".