In Susa, Piedmont, the “Ai Paracadutisti d’Italia” monument, dedicated to those killed in war, peacekeeping missions, and at parachute drop zones, was vandalized. The incident was made public on September 24, 2026.
The Italian flag was removed from the flagpole and left on the ground, tangled in several cables. The display case containing sand from El Alamein, located at the base of the memorial, was also smashed.
A yellow-green liquid substance was spread across the lawn, paving, and pedestal. The words «murderous colonialists» appeared in red paint on the road in front of it.
The writing in front of the memorial
The two “s” letters in the writing were drawn in a style recalling the double rune used by the Schutzstaffel (SS), the Nazi Party’s paramilitary organization. The graphic reference alone does not clarify the identity or motives of those responsible.
No group has claimed responsibility for the act. The source also does not indicate whether cameras are present in the area that may have recorded what happened.
The monument is a stone structure associated with the Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d’Italia. Its inscription dedicates it to Italian paratroopers killed in different service contexts.
The damage therefore affected several elements of the site: the Italian tricolor, the display case, the pedestal, and the surrounding area. The paint was applied to the roadway in front of the memorial.
Condemnation from veterans’ associations
The incident was condemned by local authorities, residents, and local veterans’ associations, according to editorial material. No suspects have been identified.
Emiliano Leccese, president of the Turin Federation of the Associazione Nazionale Combattenti e Reduci, described what happened as an affront to memory and to the values passed down by previous generations.
«We cannot afford to remain indifferent: every affront to memory is an affront to our identity, our history, and the values handed down to us by those who came before us», Leccese said.
Enrico Panaro, who made the incident public, also condemned the act. He argued that the damage had struck a place dedicated to the memory of fallen service members.
Panaro also stated that the writings cannot erase the history of Folgore or the memory of the men and women of the Armed Forces. This was an assessment expressed by the administrator himself.
Support for restoration efforts
Panaro said he was available to contribute to cleaning and restoring the monument. In his capacity as a municipal official, he added that he would work to ensure the intervention is carried out quickly.
«The memory of our Fallen cannot be erased with a marker», he said. He added that respect for those who sacrificed their lives for the country is a duty, not an ideological issue.
The source reports that law enforcement is investigating the case, without providing details about the inquiry. At present, no group or individual has been held responsible for the act.
The identity of those responsible and the circumstances surrounding the damage therefore remain to be clarified. The established facts concern the condition of the monument, the flag, the display case, and the area in front of it.
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