Edward Marchesi On September 30, 2026, the Pisa Prison, better known as Don Bosco Prison , was the scene of a riot involving dozens of inmates. Around 6:00 PM, an evacuation drill led to the discovery of suspected surveillance devices hidden in the cells, prompting an immediate protest.
The prisoners occupied an entire ward, blocking access to the police and quickly turning it into a conflict zone.
The evacuation test and the discovery of the bugs
During the simulation, authorities asked the inmates to leave their cells for a few minutes. Upon their return, some of the inmates reported the presence of small devices, described as "bugs" or " microphones" that were supposedly used for investigative purposes.
An Albanian prisoner, despite being banned from using electronic devices, managed to live-stream his complaint on TikTok , describing the curious objects as an "invasion of privacy" inside his cells.
TikTok Live, Violence Accusations, and Protesters' Requests
The broadcast continued for hours: the inmates, with their faces uncovered, alternated between Italian and Albanian, claiming they had been "beaten with truncheons" and demanding the right to speak freely without fear of being intercepted.
During the live broadcast, they also poured oil on the corridors, making them slippery and potentially flammable, to hinder the patrols' advance. Several media outlets showed videos showing the inmates' hand-built barricade, while a crowd of relatives and friends gathered outside the building.
Intervention by the authorities and the context of overcrowding
Outside the facility, dozens of Penitentiary Police officers, Carabinieri, and law enforcement officers erected a security cordon; several 118 ambulances remained on standby for any emergency services. GIR/GIO negotiators arrived from Rome to open a dialogue with approximately fifty prisoners still barricaded in. Meanwhile, riot police deployed tear gas to try to calm things down. The UIL FP Penitentiary Police union provided alarming data: 300 inmates occupy 185 available places (+64%), while operational staff dropped to 185, well below the required 347 (-46%). Gennarino De Fazio, union representative, emphasized the criticality of the system, stating: "In Pisa, over 300 inmates are crammed into just 185 places (+64%), while only 185 officers have been assigned, when at least 347 are needed." He also highlighted the gap at the national level, with 66,000 inmates versus 46,300 places and a shortage of around 20,000 officers.
Perspectives and requests for reform
The union spokesperson concluded by calling for a "reduction in prison population" and a "strengthening of staff" as essential steps to prevent similar incidents. Meanwhile, the protest remains under control, but tension is palpable both inside and outside the prison walls, where family members and supporters await news of the resolution of the uprising.