An alarming explosion rocked the early hours of Friday morning, obliterating two cars belonging to the family of prominent Italian investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci. The incident occurred right outside his home in Pomezia, a town situated south of Rome.
In a subsequent social media post, Mr. Ranucci confirmed that the blast was caused by an explosive device meticulously placed beneath the vehicles.
He shared a poignant video on social media immediately after the explosion, capturing the mangled remains of the two cars parked on a street in front of a black metal gate. The flashing lights of an emergency vehicle and a uniformed emergency worker were clearly visible in the footage.
Mr. Ranucci is a highly respected figure, renowned as the host of “Report,” a critical investigative program broadcast on Italy’s public channel, Rai 3. His relentless reporting on organized crime has put him in harm’s way before; in 2021, Italian police provided him with protection following the discovery of an assassination plot orchestrated by the ‘Ndrangheta, a powerful Italian organized crime syndicate.
On social media, Mr. Ranucci also mentioned the rapid response, noting that Italy’s military police, the Carabinieri, and the fire brigade were swiftly on the scene.
At this time, it remains unclear whether anyone sustained injuries from the explosion. However, in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Mr. Ranucci stated that both he and his daughter were at home when the powerful blast occurred.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.