Overview
- Municipal police arrested a 20-year-old, reportedly of Tunisian origin, on suspicion of aggravated theft after she took a Brussa cargo mototopo that was moored for deliveries.
- The vessel traveled along the Grand Canal and collided with the parapet beside the Rialto Bridge at about 11:30 a.m. local time, according to eyewitness video.
- Several packages fell into the water during the impact, and navigation on the Canal Grande was temporarily modified to recover the boat and the parcels.
- Police navigation specialists are quantifying damage to the bridge, with reports that some marble balustrades at its base were heavily damaged.
- Investigators are examining motive and the extent of losses to the cargo, many items believed to be holiday gifts, while the suspect remains in custody.