Masked robbers armed with military-style weapons blocked a busy highway in southern Italy on Monday, set vehicles on fire and used explosives to attack an armored cash transport van near the town of Tuturano, triggering a brief exchange of gunfire 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 in the Puglia region, renewed concerns about organized gangs using commando tactics against cash-in-transit vehicles. Investigators said the raid appeared coordinated and designed to slow police response, using multiple vehicles, heavy firepower and road hazards. Officials said there was no confirmed report of money stolen, and they focused first on clearing the scene and protecting motorists as forensic teams began collecting evidence from 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 with morning traffic. Investigators believe between six and 10 people took part, arriving in more than one vehicle, including at least one van. Some of the attackers appeared to pose as police, officials said, using cars fitted with removable flashing blue lights that could resemble law enforcement vehicles from a distance. As traffic approached, vehicles were placed across lanes to force the cash van to stop. At least one vehicle was then set on fire, sending thick smoke across the roadway and trapping drivers behind what witnesses described as a wall of flames. “It looked like a war zone,” a 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 vehicle and detonated an explosive near the rear, authorities said. Footage taken by motorists showed a powerful blast that tore open parts of the van and scattered debris across the pavement. Investigators said gunfire followed when Carabinieri officers arrived and the suspects fired during their escape. Officials said one police vehicle was hit by bullets, and investigators said the attackers also scattered metal spikes on the roadway in an apparent attempt to puncture tires and slow pursuit. Authorities said no police officers, security guards or bystanders were reported injured. The armored van 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, limiting what the attackers could do after the explosion. Carabinieri Col. Cristian Marello, who leads the Carabinieri division in Lecce, said the cash was not taken because a security system known as Spumablock came into action after the blast. Authorities did not publicly confirm how much money was inside the vehicle, and they cautioned that the sequence of events remains under investigation. Police said they are reviewing recordings from motorists and nearby cameras to reconstruct the timeline, identify every vehicle used in the ambush and determine how the explosive was placed.
The chaos forced motorists to make split-second decisions as smoke rolled across stopped traffic and the sound of gunfire echoed along the roadway. Drivers described crouching inside cars, ducking below windows and trying to keep children quiet as armed men moved between vehicles. Some people filmed from a distance, then stopped when shots rang out, fearing stray bullets. In some clips circulating online, suspects appear in light-colored coveralls carrying long guns while shouting and scanning the traffic jam. Officials said they were working to determine how the gang coordinated roles during the assault, including who handled the explosive, who watched approaching traffic and who confronted arriving patrols.
Authorities said the suspects fled using vehicles taken during the confusion, 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. Firefighters extinguished burning vehicles and police swept the area for possible unexploded materials before lanes were reopened, officials said. The closure disrupted deliveries and commuting along one of the region’s key corridors, and local leaders condemned the violence. “This was an extremely dangerous operation that put many lives at risk,” a local official said, describing the morning as a test for first responders and for residents who suddenly found themselves trapped 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 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 decide formal charges, which in similar cases can include attempted aggravated robbery, illegal possession of weapons and explosives, arson, attacks on police 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 they said the search for additional suspects continued into the evening.
The attack drew attention to a pattern law enforcement has tracked for years: highly planned strikes on cash transport vehicles that rely on stolen cars, fast-moving teams and intimidation in public spaces. Investigators said the operation showed signs of a commando-style approach, with multiple roles, rapid movement and the use of fire and smoke for cover. The region has seen other attacks on cash transports, and authorities have pressed 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 stressed that while countermeasures can reduce losses, they do not remove the risk to drivers and bystanders when explosives and automatic weapons are used on open roads.
By Monday evening, investigators said the crime scene had been cleared and the highway had largely reopened, though police remained visible near exits and service roads as checks continued. The two detained suspects remained in custody Tuesday while prosecutors prepared next steps and forensic teams analyzed shell casings, blast patterns and burned vehicles for fingerprints and other traces. Officials said additional updates are expected as witness statements and video are reviewed and investigators try to identify the remaining suspects.
Author note: Last updated February 10, 2026.