An attempted armed robbery on an armoured cash van sparked panic and a firefight on a highway in southern Italy on Monday morning, prompting a swift response from security forces and leading to arrests. Video footage recorded by passing motorists shows at least six masked individuals, some dressed in white overalls and carrying weapons, coordinating the ambush.
Investigators said the group used multiple vehicles to block traffic and reportedly detonated explosives to immobilise the armoured truck. Despite the dramatic operation, the robbery itself was not completed.
Attackers Block Road With Burning Vehicles
Authorities said the suspects created a fiery barricade using burning vehicles, including a small truck and a van, trapping the cash-in-transit vehicle on the highway between Lecce and Brindisi. Some of the attackers were seen wearing black-and-white jumpsuits and posing as police officers using vehicles fitted with flashing blue lights to avoid suspicion.
In scenes resembling a Hollywood thriller, dashcam footage shows six to ten assailants firing Kalashnikov rifles and shotguns to intimidate guards before detonating military-grade explosives on the van’s rear. The blast lifted the vehicle and sent thick black smoke into the air, a moment clearly captured on camera by stunned motorists.
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Robbers Flee After Security Forces Arrive
Security forces arrived quickly and engaged in a brief exchange of gunfire with the attackers, forcing them to flee the scene. During their escape, the suspects allegedly hijacked cars from motorists who happened to be nearby.
No injuries were reported, and authorities confirmed that the robbers did not succeed in stealing any cash. Italian security forces later arrested two suspects in the Lecce area. They were caught wearing masks but were unarmed at the time of arrest. Based on video evidence, investigators believe the gang may have included up to six members, leaving at least four suspects still at large as the manhunt continues.