Italian Authorities Detain Four in Connection with Bomb Attack on Investigative Journalist
Poinews.com – In late October, a bomb attack targeted Sigfrido Ranucci, a prominent investigative journalist associated with the Report program. Italian police have since apprehended four individuals suspected of involvement in the incident, which occurred near his residence in Pomezia, a town close to Rome. The suspects face charges of handling an explosive device in a public area, causing property damage, and making threats. The prosecution alleges the crime was part of a broader operation involving more than five participants, utilizing methods reminiscent of organized crime.
The detainees include a couple from Avella: Pellegrino D’Avino, who was initially held by the Carabianieri in Rome before being moved to Rebibbia prison, and his wife, Marika De Filippi, currently under house arrest at their home. Additional arrests involve Saverio Mutone and Antonio Passariello. According to preliminary findings, the group operated under the direction of an unidentified individual. Passariello is believed to have arranged the vehicle used, while the others conducted surveillance prior to the attack.
Investigation Details and Motives
Prosecutors claim the explosive device was placed outside Ranucci’s home. However, the judge emphasized that “the manner of placement does not indicate the intent to kill,” suggesting the attack might have had a symbolic purpose. The investigation revealed the suspects had executed other contracted tasks, but their role in this case remains under scrutiny. Ranucci, in an interview with La Repubblica, stated:
“I have been waiting for this moment since the day of the attack. I had no doubt it would come (…) From what I understand, there are those who organised it, those who were complicit, those who provided legal assistance, those who tried to destroy the SIM cards.”
He further remarked:
“But this story seems to show once again that there is a part of the state that works, that protects its citizens, that does its job properly.Luckily,”
he added, expressing hope for accountability.
Clues from Anonymous Email
An anonymous message sent on April 6 to Rome prosecutor Carlo Villani implicated Passariello as the individual responsible for the attack. The sender claimed the operation was carried out without informing the associated criminal group. The email, cited by Adnkronos in the custody order, also noted that Antonio was accompanied by a young man named Luca, who resides at his address. The text described how the two “boasted from morning till night” about setting off the bomb “on behalf of the Moccia clan.”
Despite this, the judge highlighted that “at this stage, no evidence has emerged that Passariello belongs to the criminal milieu of the Moccia clan of Afragola.” The National Federation of the Italian Press expressed readiness to join any trial as a civil party, stressing that “the FNSI is aware the investigation is not yet over. We hope it will lead to further developments and the identification of those who ordered the attack and the motives behind it.”
Union Response and Press Freedom Concerns
Usigrai, the RAI journalists’ union, released a statement applauding the progress in the case. The group noted the attack aimed to “strike the whole world of investigative journalism and Article 21 of the Constitution,” which aligns with concerns raised by international press freedom organizations. These groups have criticized Italy’s declining position in global rankings for media freedom, a trend the union says the attack underscores.
