Attack on an armored car with explosives, Kalashnikovs and hostages

Weapons of war, explosives, cars set on fire and even the temporary seizure of a Marino bus with two passengers on board: the methods of attacks on armored cash vans on the roads of the province of Foggia, four in 2026 including the one carried out this morning, are becoming increasingly violent.

This morning, shortly after 8.30, on state road 16, in the stretch between San Ferdinando di Puglia and Cerignola, a commando team of at least four people went into action: the target was the Battistolli armored vehicle carrying over a million euros that the bandits managed to steal. For the Vicenza group that deals with cash transport, this is the sixteenth assault on one of its armored vehicles since July 2024, the thirteenth in Puglia. With their faces covered by balaclavas, they fired at least fifty shots from Kalashnikovs and 12 gauge rifles against the windows of the armored vehicle on board which were the security guards, one of whom was injured in the calf. To open the door of the van they then used a powerful explosive which gutted the vehicle. As per practice, in the attacks the bandits use stratagems to delay the intervention of the police. And this time they raised the bar by involving a Marino bus. The bus was overtaken by two cars. There were bandits on board who fired machine gun shots into the air, forcing the driver to stop. Then, one of them ordered him to put the bus sideways and had the keys handed over to him.

"It was a very bad experience - the driver, Salvatore Trotta, told ANSA -. I won't go back to work soon, I'll stop for a few days also because I know that tomorrow I'll feel the pinch and the bomb of emotions will explode. "I - he underlines - didn't resist. I was so nervous that I couldn't push the button to open the bus door. Then I realized I hadn't put the handbrake on. The first thing I thought was: something bad will happen to me today, I feared the worst". "On board with me - he recalls - there were two passengers, a girl from Chieti and a lady who had to go to Rome. I told them to stay calm and that the worst was over. They were very scared but luckily they are fine". In addition to planting three-pointed nails on the asphalt, the bandits set fire to two stolen cars on the opposite lane, while a third vehicle was set on fire in the lane of the cash van. On board one of the cars the firefighters found an LPG cylinder used for fires. Yet another assault in the Foggia area also reignites the debate on security in the area. And the trade unions are asking for urgent interventions from the Ministry of the Interior to intervene with prevention "before someone dies".