There is an armed man in the building!
'Armato' = ar-MA-toh. 'Edificio' = eh-dee-FEE-cho. Hard c before i — Italian pronunciation rule.
Reporting an active threat — armed person in a school, office, shopping centre or public space.
'Uomo armato' (armed man) triggers the highest priority police response. In Italy, call 113 (Polizia) or 112 immediately. Active shooter/armed threat protocols (Piano di Sicurezza) are required in Italian schools under Circular 119/2020. Italian police response includes the NOCS (Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza — elite police unit) and the GIS (Gruppo Intervento Speciale — Carabinieri special unit).
Qualcuno ha una pistola — siamo in ostaggio.
Someone has a gun — we are being held hostage.
Hostage situation — police negotiation is the Italian standard response.
Ha minacciato i presenti con un coltello.
He threatened those present with a knife.
Specify weapon type — affects police response level.
Ci stiamo barricando in ufficio — non sappiamo dove è adesso.
We are barricading ourselves in the office — we don't know where he is now.
Run, hide, tell — Italian police advise the same protocol as UK/US.
Italy's gun laws are among Europe's strictest. Legal gun ownership requires a licence (porto d'armi), psychological evaluation, and annual renewal. Despite this, Italy has approximately 8 million legally registered firearms. The NOCS (Polizia) and GIS (Carabinieri) are Italy's elite counter-terrorism and hostage rescue units, both ranking among Europe's finest.