Bomb Explodes At Investigation Journalist's House, Italian PM Inflamed

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni/PHOTO via Instagram @giorgiameloni

JAKARTA - The bomb exploded outside the home of one of Italy's leading investigative journalists. The explosion damaged two cars belonging to his family, triggering a message of solidarity for the journalist from his colleagues and politicians.

Sigfrido Ranucci, host of the weekly program "Report" on state broadcaster RAI, has been under police protection for years.

Ranucci said he and his editors received various threats on a regular basis, including gunfire.

A simple bomb weighing about 1 kilogram, was planted outside the front gate of Ranucci's home in Campo Ascolano, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Rome.

The bomb exploded at 22:17 local time, Thursday, October 16, about 20 minutes after he returned home. The explosion destroyed two cars belonging to Ranucci and another belonging to his daughter.

Nobody got hurt, Ranucci said "in addition to shock, everything is fine".

ANSA news agency reported that anti-mafia prosecutors had opened an investigation into criminal damage with burdensome circumstances due to mafia-style methods.

Earlier this week, the Italian journalist federation (FNSI) stated that 81 journalists had been victims of intimidation, including 16 cases of physical assault, in the first half of 2025, an increase from 46 cases in the same period in 2024.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the "serious act of intimidation".

"Freedom and independence of information are important values of our democracy, which we will continue to defend," said Meloni.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said police escorts against Ranucci would be increased. The journalist also said he would be given armored cars.

The International Journalists Federation (IFJ) said the bomb attack was "very troubling" for coinciding with the anniversary of the assassination of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta in 2017.

"(We) strongly condemn the assassination attempt of a journalist, which is a direct attack on media freedom, and urge a thorough investigation to ensure the perpetrators are identified and tried," he said.