Italian journalist's car bombed in suspected mafia attack

Car Bomb Targets Prominent Italian Investigative Journalist

A car bomb exploded outside the home of Sigfrido Ranucci, one of Italy's most prominent investigative journalists, in the early hours of October 17, 2025. The attack occurred in Campo Ascolano, a suburb approximately 30 kilometers south of Rome, where Ranucci lives with his family. The explosion completely destroyed Ranucci's vehicle and severely damaged his daughter's car parked nearby, though miraculously no one was injured in the blast.

Timing and Circumstances

The bomb detonated around 10:00 PM local time, just twenty minutes after Ranucci had returned home. Witnesses reported hearing two 'extremely loud' explosions in quick succession. 'The force of the explosion was so strong that it could have been fatal if someone had been passing by at that time,' a colleague from Ranucci's program Report told authorities.

Ranucci, who has been under police protection since 2010 with enhanced security measures implemented in 2021, expressed relief that his family remained unharmed. 'Apart from the shock, I am okay,' he told reporters, though he acknowledged not knowing whether the attack was linked to his investigative work.

Political Reactions and Investigation

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni immediately condemned what she called a 'serious act of intimidation' and emphasized that 'freedom and independence of information are essential values of democracy.' Despite her administration having repeatedly sued Ranucci's program Report over its investigations, Meloni's strong condemnation was echoed across the political spectrum.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio went further, describing the attack as '100 percent an attack on the State.' Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced that Ranucci's police protection would be immediately enhanced with an armored vehicle and additional armed escorts.

Mafia-Style Methods Suspected

Anti-mafia prosecutors have opened an investigation for criminal damage with aggravating circumstances of mafia-style methods. Authorities estimate that approximately 1 kilogram of explosives, likely made from firework materials, was used in the attack. The timing is particularly significant as it occurred on the eighth anniversary of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination by car bomb in 2017.

This is not the first threat Ranucci has faced. In 2024, he discovered two bullets left in front of his house as an apparent warning. His program Report, which airs on RAI public television, has frequently exposed corruption and organized crime, making him a target for criminal organizations.

Broader Implications for Press Freedom

The attack has raised serious concerns about press freedom in Italy, where approximately 20 journalists live under permanent police protection due to threats from organized crime. Reporters Without Borders described this as 'the most serious attack against an Italian reporter in recent years' and warned that press freedom faces an 'existential threat' in the country.

The Italian journalists' union FNSI condemned the attack, stating it 'sets democracy in Italy back by several decades.' The union had previously denounced RAI for reducing airtime for Report and what they described as a 'climate of hatred and intolerance' toward the program's investigations.

As police review CCTV footage and continue their investigation, the attack serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by investigative journalists who expose corruption and organized crime in Italy. The incident has drawn international attention to the ongoing challenges of press freedom and journalist safety in Europe.

Sources: CNN, The Telegraph, France 24