Dramatic Italian Highway Heist Sees Masked Gang Blow Up Armoured Cash Van
In a brazen operation reminiscent of a Hollywood thriller, a masked gang armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles executed a dramatic heist on an Italian motorway, blowing up an armoured cash van in the Puglia region. The audacious robbery unfolded on Monday morning, sending shockwaves through the local community and highlighting the persistent threat of organised crime in the area.
Explosive Ambush on Busy Motorway
Around 8am on Monday, approximately half a dozen men, clad in balaclavas and either all-black outfits or white overalls, emerged from vehicles that surrounded a cash-transporter van owned by the security company Battistolli. The incident occurred on the road between Lecce and Brindisi, a key transport route in southern Italy. In a scene likened to the classic film The Italian Job, the gang detonated an explosion that violently blew the doors and roof off the armoured van, propelling the vehicle into the air and engulfing the area in thick smoke.
Traffic came to an immediate standstill as stunned motorists witnessed the unfolding chaos. One driver, heading towards the scene, managed to film the blast and the subsequent raid, capturing the moment the bandits appeared to unload the van's contents into one of their getaway cars. Italian media reports indicate that some other vehicles caught in the ambush were also robbed during the confusion, though the exact amount of money stolen remains unclear as investigations continue.
Police Shootout and Countryside Manhunt
The situation escalated dramatically when police arrived at the scene. A fierce shootout ensued, with the armed bandits opening fire and officers using their vehicles for cover. Photographs shared by Italian media revealed one police car with a bullet hole directly in the windshield, positioned right above the steering wheel, underscoring the intensity of the confrontation. Remarkably, despite the violent exchange, no injuries or fatalities were reported among the Carabinieri, Italy's national police force.
Following the shootout, the robbers fled, prompting a high-speed police chase that transitioned into a extensive manhunt in the countryside near the town of Squinzano. Two suspects were eventually captured after attempting to escape through a field, having abandoned a white Alfa Romeo. A second vehicle, a Jeep, was discovered near the arrest site, but at least two other accomplices remain at large, with authorities actively pursuing them.
Context of Organised Crime in Puglia
Italian news outlet Sky TG24 reported that the bandits are believed to hail from the Foggia area of Puglia, a region notorious for its high rate of attacks on armoured vehicles. According to Savip, the union for security guards, around €1.6 billion worth of valuables were stolen in such incidents from 2019 to 2023, with Puglia ranking second in Italy for these types of assaults. Similar highway attacks have been recorded in recent years, including in 2021, 2023, and 2024, pointing to an ongoing pattern of organised criminal activity.
Nicola Magno, the Puglia regional secretary general of Un Arma, commented on the incident via Sky TG24, stating, "Once again, the Carabinieri found themselves on the front lines of an extremely violent and organised criminal act. The fact that a patrol was hit by gunfire demonstrates the high level of risk to which our officers are exposed on a daily basis. It is only thanks to the professionalism, composure, and sense of duty of our colleagues that today we are not talking about a tragedy."
Investigations into the heist are ongoing, with authorities working to piece together the full details of the robbery and apprehend the remaining suspects. This event serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating sophisticated criminal networks in Italy.
