Reuters
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A bomb exploded outside the home of one of Italy’s top investigative journalists late on Thursday, damaging two vehicles and a close-by home, prompting messages of solidarity for the reporter from colleagues and politicians.
Sigfrido Ranucci, who hosts RAI’s weekly “Report,” Italy’s best-known investigative journalism program, has been underneath police safety for years. He mentioned each he and his newsroom had acquired many threats of numerous sorts, together with bullets.
The rudimentary gadget, doubtless created from firework explosives, was planted outside the entrance gate of Ranucci’s home in Campo Ascolano, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Rome, the journalist instructed state broadcaster RAI on Friday.
He added that the explosion occurred about 20 minutes after he had returned home.
Both vehicles – belonging to Ranucci and his daughter – have been virtually destroyed. Nobody was injured, with Ranucci saying “apart from the shock, all is OK.”
The reporter mentioned he couldn’t say whether or not the bomb was linked to his work. ANSA information company mentioned anti-Mafia prosecutors had opened an investigation for prison injury with aggravating circumstances of mafia-style strategies.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the “serious act of intimidation,” including that “freedom and independence of information are essential values of our democracies, which we will continue to defend.”
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi mentioned Ranucci’s police escort could be stepped up.
“Report” has typically clashed with the federal government, leading to a number of members of Meloni’s rightist coalition – together with Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, Industry Minister Adolfo Urso, her Brothers of Italy get together and her head of cupboard, Gaetano Caputi – suing this system.