Bomb Targets Italian Journalist Siegfried Ranucci in Apparent Retaliation for Investigative Work
A bomb detonated under the car of Italian journalist and television presenter Siegfried Ranucci late Thursday night in Campo Ascolano,a town between Rome and Pomezia,sparking a major investigation and raising concerns about escalating threats against the press. The explosion, which occurred around 10 p.m. local time, also caused notable damage to a second vehicle belonging to Ranucci’s daughter and to a neighboring residence, though fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The incident, first reported by the Report program – the investigative journalism show Ranucci hosts – prompted an immediate response from law enforcement. “This night a bomb was placed under the car of the journalist and presenter of Report, Siegfried Ranucci,” the show stated in a social media post. “The car blew up, also damaging the other family car and the house next door. Carabinieri, Digos, firefighters and forensics were on site. The competent prosecutor’s Office has activated the necessary checks and the Prefect has been notified. The power of the explosion was such that it could have killed anyone who had passed by at that moment.”
According to initial reports, the blast was powerful, equivalent to at least one kilogram of explosives.the timing of the attack has raised suspicions that it was linked to Ranucci’s upcoming investigations. “It might not be a coincidence that a few days ago I announced the topics of the new Report investigations,” Ranucci reportedly told the Corriere della Sera newspaper shortly after the incident. He also revealed a harrowing near-miss, stating his daughter had parked and passed by the vehicle just minutes before the explosion, narrowly avoiding potential harm.
The lack of surveillance cameras in the area is complicating efforts to identify the perpetrators. However, investigators are proceeding under the assumption of a deliberate act, with Rome’s anti-mafia prosecutors promptly opening a case. Prosecutor Carlo Villani, working under Deputy Ilaria calò, is pursuing the investigation with a focus on potential mafia involvement.
ranucci, who has been under police protection since 2014 due to previous death threats from organized crime, described the attack as a continuation of a pattern of intimidation. He has previously reported receiving threats, including the discovery of P38 bullets outside his home and instances of being followed by unidentified individuals. “I’m in the car with the police escort and I’m going to report what happened,” Ranucci told the Italian news agency Ansa on Friday morning, following a sleepless night. He added that the device appeared “rudimentary,” but a full assessment of the explosive is underway.
A video shared by the Report program on social media visually documented the extent of the damage, showing the front of Ranucci’s car completely destroyed and his daughter’s vehicle significantly damaged.The explosion also caused external damage to the adjacent house. Ranucci noted his son had parked the car in that location earlier Thursday afternoon.
The attack underscores the growing risks faced by journalists in Italy, especially those engaged in investigative reporting.
Why: The bomb detonated under journalist Siegfried Ranucci’s car,likely in retaliation for his investigative work.
Who: Siegfried Ranucci, an Italian journalist and television presenter, was the target. Investigators suspect mafia involvement.
What: A bomb, equivalent to at least one kilogram of explosives, was detonated under Ranucci’s car, damaging two vehicles and a neighboring residence.
How did it end? The investigation is ongoing, led by Rome’s anti-mafia prosecutors. Ranucci has been placed under increased police protection, continuing
