A 19-year-old British woman has spoken publicly about the terrifying assault she endured during New Year’s Eve celebrations in central Milan. Imogen, a university student, had joined friends in the Piazza del Duomo to watch the fireworks when she became separated from her group in the dense crowd.

She recalls being suddenly pulled backward and surrounded by a large group of men she did not know. Moreover, she says several restrained her arms while others touched her without consent. As she struggled, she heard disturbing comments and feared she would not escape. Her friends reached her only after she began screaming.

Imogen describes the experience as deeply dehumanising and says she believed her life was in danger. She suffered injuries while fighting to break free, and she and her friends were later doused with a liquid that caused burning in their eyes and difficulty breathing. She reports that every attempt to move through the crowd exposed them to further harassment.

When they eventually found police, Imogen says initial responses were dismissive. However, officers later took her statement and offered support. She has since returned home to the UK, where she is trying to rebuild her confidence and continue her studies.

Other young women in the same area reported similar assaults, prompting Italian authorities to open a formal investigation. Imogen chose to speak out, she says, to correct misinformation circulating online and to emphasise that victims are not to blame. She hopes her testimony will encourage better protections for women at large public events.