ROME – A bomb exploded late Thursday outside the Rome-area home of Sigfrido Ranucci, one of Italy’s most prominent investigative journalists, in an act authorities are investigating as a potential mafia-style intimidation attempt. The blast destroyed two cars but injured no one, prompting a wave of solidarity and condemnation from across the political spectrum.
The device, which Ranucci described as a “rudimentary” bomb likely constructed from firework explosives, was detonated at the front gate of his house in Campo Ascolano, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of the capital. The journalist told RAI state broadcaster that the explosion occurred just 20 minutes after he had returned home, amplifying the sense of a targeted attack.
“The two cars, mine and my daughter’s, were practically destroyed,” Ranucci said, adding that a nearby house also sustained damage. Despite the shock, he confirmed, “All is OK.”
Ranucci, the host of RAI’s weekly program “Report,” has been under police protection for years due to the sensitive nature of his investigations. He revealed that both he and his newsroom have previously received numerous threats, “including bullets.” While he stated he could not definitively link the bombing to his work, the anti-mafia prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation, citing potential “aggravating circumstances of mafia-style methods.”
The attack was swiftly condemned by Italy’s highest officials. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced it as a “serious act of intimidation.”
“Freedom and independence of information are essential values of our democracies, which we will continue to defend,” Meloni said in a statement.
Echoing the Prime Minister’s sentiments, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced that Ranucci’s police escort would be “stepped up” in response to the incident.
The bombing highlights the ongoing dangers faced by journalists in Italy, particularly those investigating organized crime and corruption. However, it also occurs against a backdrop of legal tension between “Report” and the government. The program has frequently clashed with Meloni’s rightist coalition, leading several of its members—including Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, Industry Minister Adolfo Urso, and the Prime Minister’s head of cabinet, Gaetano Caputi—to file lawsuits against the show.
As authorities work to identify the perpetrators and their motives, the attack on Ranucci’s home has reignited a national conversation about press freedom and the safety of those who challenge powerful interests.
