Italy's anti-Mafia police launch probe after leading investigative journalist's car explodes

An explosive device detonated under the car of one of Italy's leading investigative journalists that was parked outside his home, prompting an investigation by the countty's anti-Mafia authorities and condemnation from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and others.

Report, the investigative series on Italy's state-run RAI3, said the explosion overnight destroyed the car of Sigfrido Ranucci and damaged a second family car and the house next to it in Pomezia, south of Rome.

It said the blast was so powerful that it could have killed anyone passing by but that no one was injured in the explosion.

Police, firefighters, forensic crews were investigating, Report said.

Meloni expressed her solidarity with Ranucci, the lead anchor of Report, and condemned what she called "the serious act of intimidation he has suffered."

"Freedom and independence of information are essential values of our democracies, which we will continue to defend," she said in a statement.

Report is one of the few investigative programmes on Italian television and regularly breaks news involving prominent Italian politicians, business leaders and public figures.

Just this week, Ranucci was absolved in the latest defamation case he has faced for one of Report’s stories.

Solidarity from across the political spectrum

"We hope that the investigations will be swift and that the truth about what happened, and who committed the attack, will be known soon. The most urgent duty we have, especially in politics, is to stand by Ranucci, without ifs or buts," wrote Green and Left Alliance (AVS) leader Nicola Fratoianni.

"Every half-sentence, every half-word can sound like an attempt at delegitimisation. And we have unfortunately learned from the recent past of this country that there is no easier target than a man left alone. With Ranucci, with his family and with the entire Report editorial team," Fratoianni concluded.

"A terrifying attack that takes us back to the darkest years. We stand by Sigfrido Ranucci and his family after his car exploded in front of his house last night. His daughter had passed by just minutes before," the trade union Usigrai said in a statement issued hours after the attack.

"We are certain that neither Sigfrido nor his colleagues at Report will be intimidated. We will always stand by them so that they can continue their investigative work freely," the union's statement continued.

"In recent months, we have denounced how Rai has reduced the airtime available to Report and particularly the climate of hatred and intolerance towards the editorial staff's investigations. In prime time on Rai1, the second highest office of the state even went so far as to describe Report staff as 'serial slanderers,' without either the presenter or the company distancing themselves. A hate campaign against investigative journalism that must end."