Masked robbers with military-style weapons blocked a major highway in southern Italy on Monday, set vehicles on fire and used explosives to attack an armored cash transport van, sparking a brief gunfight with police and a manhunt that ended with two detentions, authorities said.
The daylight assault on State Road 613, the main route between the port city of Brindisi and the city of Lecce, added to concerns in parts of Italy about organized, commando-style attacks on cash-in-transit vehicles. Investigators said the raid appeared planned and coordinated, with multiple vehicles, heavy firepower and tactics meant to slow police. Officials said they had no confirmed report that any money was stolen, and they said the safety of motorists and first responders was the immediate focus as forensic teams began documenting the blast site.
Authorities said the ambush unfolded shortly before 8 a.m. near the Tuturano exit, as the armored van traveled along the divided highway. Investigators believe between six and 10 suspects took part, moving into position using more than one vehicle, including at least one van. Some appeared to pose as police, officials said, using cars fitted with flashing blue lights that from a distance resembled those used by law enforcement. As traffic approached, vehicles were placed across lanes to force the cash van to stop. At least one vehicle was then set ablaze, sending thick smoke across the roadway and trapping drivers behind what witnesses described as a wall of flames. “It looked like a war zone,” one motorist said in comments carried by Italian media after recording part of the scene on a phone.
With the road blocked, the masked group rushed the armored van and detonated an explosive near the rear, authorities said. Video taken by motorists showed a powerful blast that tore open parts of the van and scattered debris across the pavement. Gunfire followed, investigators said, when Carabinieri officers arrived and the suspects fired during their escape. One police vehicle was struck by gunfire, officials said, and investigators said the attackers also scattered metal spikes on the roadway in an apparent effort to puncture tires and slow pursuit. Authorities said no police officers, security guards or bystanders were reported injured. The armored vehicle belonged to BTV, a cash transport unit linked to the Battistolli Group, officials said.
Investigators said the raid appeared designed to overwhelm security measures, but they reported that the van’s protective system activated, preventing access to the cargo area or otherwise rendering the contents unusable. Carabinieri Col. Cristian Marello, who leads the Carabinieri division in Lecce, said the cash was not taken because the system known as Spumablock came into action after the explosion. Authorities did not publicly confirm how much money was inside the vehicle, and they cautioned that the sequence of events remains under investigation as forensic teams collect shell casings and other evidence from the roadway. Police said they are also reviewing video from motorists and nearby cameras to map the suspects’ movements and identify the vehicles used to block traffic.
The suspects fled in vehicles taken during the chaos, authorities said, including at least one car stolen from motorists delayed by the roadblock. Italian media reported that some drivers were ordered out of their vehicles at gunpoint as the group searched for faster transportation. The attack shut down traffic for hours on a road used by commuters and freight moving between coastal cities and inland towns. Firefighters extinguished burning vehicles and police swept the area for possible unexploded materials before lanes were reopened, officials said. The closure disrupted deliveries to and from Brindisi’s industrial zone and port facilities, and local leaders condemned the violence. “This was an extremely dangerous operation that put many lives at risk,” one local official said, describing the morning as a test for first responders and for residents who found themselves stuck on a highway under threat.
Carabinieri said two suspects were detained after fleeing on foot during the pursuit, while other members of the group escaped. Italian media reported the detained suspects were from the Foggia area in northern Puglia, and reports described them as 38 and 61 years old. Authorities did not immediately release names, saying identification steps and interviews were continuing. Prosecutors were expected to review evidence and determine formal charges, which in similar cases can include attempted aggravated robbery, illegal possession of weapons and explosives, arson and obstruction of public services. Investigators said road checkpoints and aerial searches were used to track possible escape routes through rural roads and nearby towns, and officials said the hunt for additional suspects continued into the evening.
The attack drew fresh attention to a pattern that Italian law enforcement has long tracked, especially in areas where criminal networks can obtain stolen vehicles, plan logistics and use high-powered weapons. Investigators said the operation bore signs of a commando-style approach, with multiple roles, rapid movement and the use of smoke and fire for cover. The region has seen other attacks on cash transport vehicles, and authorities have pushed armored transport firms to strengthen defenses with reinforced compartments, tracking systems and anti-theft devices that can seal doors or protect cash from being handled after an assault. Officials emphasized that such countermeasures may limit losses but do not remove the danger to people on the road when explosives and automatic weapons are used in public spaces.
Motorists who witnessed the ambush described confusion as smoke rose over stopped traffic and masked men moved between vehicles. In some clips shared on social media, suspects appear in light-colored coveralls carrying long guns while shouting and scanning the traffic jam. Drivers said they ducked inside cars as shots rang out, unsure whether the gunfire was coming closer or moving away. Authorities urged witnesses to provide recordings and statements as investigators work to identify each participant and confirm whether the gang managed to remove anything from the armored van before fleeing. Police also said they would examine the burned vehicles to determine whether they were stolen and how the fires were set.
By Monday evening, investigators said the crime scene had been cleared, the highway had largely reopened and the two detained suspects remained in custody while prosecutors prepared next steps. Officials said additional updates are expected as forensic results and witness statements are reviewed in the days ahead.
Author note: Last updated February 10, 2026.