Moroccan teenager denied bus access in Italy amid alleged racist incident

Tuesday 29 September 2026 - 19:30

A reported incident involving a 14-year-old girl of Moroccan origin in northern Italy has prompted calls for clarification after she was allegedly prevented from boarding a bus despite holding a valid ticket for Cuneo, where she lives.

The episode reportedly took place at the railway station in Fossano, in the province of Cuneo, during a period when buses were replacing some train services. According to Italian public broadcaster TGR Piemonte, the teenager said the driver told her that he would allow only Italian passengers to board before leaving without her.

The girl's family disputes the circumstances surrounding the refusal and has sought legal advice. The case has also drawn the attention of the regional anti-discrimination network in Cuneo.

A confrontation recorded on video

After learning that his sister had been left behind, her 28-year-old brother went to the station and encountered the same driver on a subsequent service. He filmed their exchange, during which the driver rejected the accusation of racism and said the teenager had misunderstood what he had told her.

The brother subsequently contacted the Carabinieri. According to reports, officers advised the family to seek legal assistance. The incident has since been formally brought to the attention of the local branch of the regional network dedicated to combating discrimination.

The circumstances remain disputed, and the reported statements attributed to the driver have not, at this stage, been established as proven facts.

Calls for an investigation

The case has attracted attention from Giulia Marro, a regional councillor in Piedmont, who described the alleged refusal as a serious case of discrimination. She called on Trenitalia and the company operating the replacement bus service to establish what happened and take appropriate action if the allegations are confirmed.

The transport context is also significant. Official information from Trenitalia and RFI confirms that replacement bus services were operating on parts of the rail network around Fossano and Cuneo during September because of scheduled maintenance work. RFI records replacement services between Fossano and Cuneo during the relevant period.

For the teenager and her family, the incident has therefore moved beyond a dispute over a single journey. Their complaint now raises broader questions about equal access to public transport and the treatment of passengers of foreign origin.

Any formal findings will depend on the evidence collected by the relevant authorities and on the explanations provided by the driver and the transport operator.