Two Arrested in Failed Armored Van Robbery Shootout in Italy

An armed gang attempted to rob an armored cash-in-transit van on a highway in southern Italy, leading to a dramatic shootout with police and the arrest of two suspects, authorities reported on Monday.

The incident occurred on State Road 613 in the Puglia region, between the towns of Lecce and Brindisi, near Cerano and San Pietro Vernotico. Around mid-morning, at least six masked assailants, some dressed in white overalls and armed with assault rifles, blocked the road by setting a vehicle ablaze as a roadblock. They used a blue Alfa Romeo equipped with flashing lights to impersonate an escort, tricking the van's guards into stopping, according to investigators.

The targeted vehicle belonged to Battistolli, a private security firm that transports cash and valuables, including luxury watches. Once halted, the attackers placed an explosive device on the rear of the white armored van and detonated it, sending flames and debris into the air. Video footage captured by passing motorists showed the gang members coordinating the ambush, crouching behind cars amid the chaos. The explosion failed to breach the reinforced compartment, preventing the robbers from accessing the contents.