The Highway Ambush
An audacious daylight robbery unfolded on the busy SS 613 highway in Italy's Puglia region, near the Tuturano exit, as a heavily armed group launched a dramatic
assault on an armoured cash-in-transit van. The perpetrators, reportedly numbering at least eight, adopted a sophisticated ruse, masquerading as police officers. They ingeniously employed flashing blue lights on a dark Alfa Romeo vehicle to mimic an official patrol, effectively confusing and potentially halting other traffic. Their primary objective was a BTV armoured vehicle transporting cash. The attackers initiated their assault by setting fire to other vehicles on the highway, creating a 'wall of flames' to isolate the target and impede any immediate response. This diversion allowed them to approach the cash van, where they employed explosives to forcibly breach its doors, causing a significant explosion and a plume of smoke to erupt. The video footage circulating online captured the intense scene, showing individuals in black and white overalls armed with large assault rifles moving swiftly towards the van, meticulously executing their destructive plan to access its contents.
Gunfire and Getaway
Following the explosive breach of the cash van, the confrontation escalated as the attackers exchanged gunfire with the Carabinieri, Italy's military police, who were evidently alerted and present. The robbers' plan extended beyond just the initial heist; during their escape, they demonstrated further intent to thwart law enforcement. Witnesses reported that the suspects hijacked vehicles from unsuspecting motorists on the scene to facilitate their getaway. Furthermore, the gang actively targeted police vehicles responding to the incident. One police car sustained damage from three bullet impacts, and an unmarked police vehicle was intentionally rammed. This level of aggression and targeted hostility towards the authorities underscores the high-risk nature of the operation and the determined, organized criminal element involved. Despite the chaotic and violent nature of the attempted robbery, officials later confirmed that the heist, in its entirety, was unsuccessful, though the precise amount of cash, if any, taken remained unclear.
Response and Arrests
The violent and highly organized criminal act prompted a swift response from law enforcement. The secretary general of a police officers' union, Nicola Magno, condemned the attack, emphasizing the extreme violence and the significant risks faced by Carabinieri officers. Magno specifically highlighted the targeting of a patrol with gunfire as indicative of the constant danger officers encounter. He also voiced concerns about the escalating armament of criminal gangs, calling for improved resources for the police, including stronger vehicles, enhanced training, and better weaponry and tools to effectively combat such sophisticated threats. Demonstrating their commitment to apprehending the perpetrators, the police achieved a significant breakthrough. Within an hour of the attack, they successfully apprehended two suspects in Lecce. However, the search for the remaining members of the gang is actively ongoing, indicating that the investigation and pursuit continue.
