Italian investigative program host attacked with bomb near Rome

A well-known Italian investigative journalist, Sigfrido Ranucci, was attacked with a bomb that nearly destroyed his car and caused damage to a neighbor's house, the Guardian reports.

The explosion occurred about 20 minutes after he returned to his home in Campo Ascolano, near Rome. His daughter's car was also partially damaged. No one was injured and anti-mafia police in Rome have opened an investigation.

According to reports, the bomb, possibly made from a firecracker, was placed between two vases outside the house with a lit fuse. Ranucci, who has been under police protection for years because of previous threats, said the explosion was so powerful it could have killed a passerby.

Footage posted by Report showed twisted metal and broken glass. Ranucci said he had received numerous threats, making it difficult to track down the perpetrator.

The attack comes as he has investigated government ministers and criticized alleged political interference in Rai by Giorgia Meloni's administration; several members of her coalition have sued Report. Meloni condemned the incident as "a serious act of intimidation," while opposition leader Elly Schlein called it "an attack on democracy and freedom of information."

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Ranucci's security would be increased to the maximum level. Media authority Agcom and the Fiom union condemned the attack as a "cruel act" fueled by a "climate of hatred."

Ranucci, who has written a book about the Italian mafia, revealed in 2021 that the bandits had given the order to kill him, but the assassination was stopped.

On Sunday, he announced the main themes of the new season of Report, including investigations into the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria and Cosa Nostra in Sicily.