Gas cylinder found beneath David replica at Piazzale Michelangelo declared harmless

A gas cylinder found beneath the replica of Michelangelo’s David at Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence on Monday morning October 5, 2026, was declared harmless after checks by Carabinieri bomb disposal experts.

The cylinder was discovered at around 7:30 a.m. by an employee of Alia Servizi Ambientali, the company responsible for waste management in Florence. The worker alerted the emergency services by calling 112.

Carabinieri patrols and bomb disposal specialists were sent to Piazzale Michelangelo, one of Florence’s best-known panoramic viewpoints. The cylinder reportedly had a round object attached to its exterior and wires protruding from it, prompting authorities to take precautionary security measures.

During the operation, access to Viale dei Colli was temporarily closed from both Piazza Ferrucci and Piazzale Galileo, with traffic diverted. The restrictions remained in place until around 10 a.m.

After examining the object, Carabinieri specialists determined that the cylinder (a type commonly used for domestic cooking gas) was empty and posed no risk of explosion. The operation was subsequently concluded and the area reopened to pedestrians and vehicles.

Investigators are now examining footage from surveillance cameras in an attempt to reconstruct what happened, determine why the cylinder was left beneath the David replica and identify the person or people responsible.

No motive has yet been established.

(Cover photo taken from Wikipedia)

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