Diavù attacked in Rome, MURo abandons Quadraro

Street artist David Vecchiato, known as Diavù, and his assistant Giorgio Silvestrelli were violently attacked while completing a mural in via Decio Mure, Quadraro, Rome. The mural commemorates Sisto Quaranta, a victim of the Nazi-fascist deportation of Quadraro on April 17, 1944. Diavù suffered injuries requiring 30 days of medical prognosis. The assailant, already known to police, had previously threatened Diavù and now claims the attack was motivated by anti-gentrification sentiment, accusing street art of raising property prices. In response, the MURo association—founded by Diavù in 2010 as Rome's first open-air street art museum—announced it will abandon Quadraro. Diavù stated that the attack reflects a deeper societal issue of verbal violence escalating into physical aggression, and that artists are among the few still actively engaging public spaces. MURo's community-specific model involved 32 international artists creating 27 works in Quadraro and Torpignattara, many donated. The association expressed that abandoning the neighborhood is a victory for the aggressor but necessary for safety. Diavù criticized the misuse of the term "urban regeneration" to justify minimal spending, pitting citizens against artists.