Romanian ambulance attacked with bats, axes over child-snatching rumors

An ambulance crew responding to a patient call in Romania's Cluj county faced a violent assault from locals armed with bats, axes, and stones. The attackers were incited by false rumors circulating on social media, particularly TikTok, alleging the ambulance was involved in child abduction.

The terrifying incident unfolded after the medical team stopped to ask for directions in Recea Cristur. Instead of assistance, they were met with agitation and filming by a group of residents. The crew proceeded to the patient and began their transport to Dej Hospital. However, their journey was interrupted when a car blocked their path, and several individuals emerged wielding weapons.

During the assault, a stone shattered the driver's side windshield, sending glass fragments into the driver's eye and causing a corneal injury. Despite being wounded, the driver maintained control of the vehicle and continued towards Cluj-Napoca. The crew activated the emergency number 112 to request police assistance. The injured driver underwent emergency surgery upon arrival in Cluj-Napoca.

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They got out of the car, with sticks, with axes. Three or four people were there. Only the ambulance driver's presence of mind prevented there from being victims. They hit the ambulance with sticks, with axes. One of them threw a stone, breaking the driver's window. Our colleague ambulance driver is injured.