A spectacular robbery has shaken Naples, where an armed gang attacked a bank in broad daylight, took dozens of people hostage, and then vanished without a trace.
The incident occurred at a Crédit Agricole branch in the Arenella area, at Piazza Medaglie d’Oro, where at least 25 people, including customers and employees, were held hostage for several hours.
The robbery began around 12:00 PM, when a group of at least five masked individuals forced their way into the bank. According to witnesses, the perpetrators used a car as a "battering ram" to break the entrance glass and wore masks depicting famous American actors.
A passerby, noticing suspicious movements, immediately alerted the police, triggering a large-scale operation by law enforcement. Within minutes, the area was surrounded by Carabinieri and firefighters.
Special forces intervened by creating an entry point into the bank with the help of a battering ram, followed by tense negotiations with the robbers. Around 3:00 PM, all hostages were released.
Six people, including employees and customers, received medical assistance due to severe psychological distress.
Naples prosecutor Nicola Gratteri also arrived at the scene to closely monitor developments.
However, as special forces from the elite GIS unit prepared to enter the bank, the robbers had already managed to disappear. According to preliminary investigations, they emptied the security vaults and then escaped through a pre-dug tunnel.
It is suspected that the escape route connected to the sewer network, allowing the perpetrators to vanish undetected, possibly even reaching the metro area.
Italian authorities have launched a widespread search operation to capture the perpetrators, with the case being considered one of the most sophisticated robberies in Italy in recent years.
The event, with elements reminiscent of action movie scenarios, has drawn attention back to bank security and the increasingly advanced methods of organized crime.