On the morning of 9 February 2026, shortly after dawn, an armed commando attacked one of Battistolli’s armoured vans travelling along the Brindisi–Lecce State Road 613, near the Tuturano junction, within the municipality of Brindisi. The operation took place on one of the main routes linking the two cities, at a time of day marked by heavy commuter traffic and commercial vehicles.
According to initial reconstructions, the criminal group, made up of at least six people, blocked the carriageway by positioning a lorry across it and then setting it on fire, creating a wall of flames that forced passing vehicles to stop. The dual carriageway remained closed for several hours in both directions between kilometre markers 8.3 and 12.8 to allow for forensic inspections and the removal of damaged vehicles.
The attackers are believed to have arrived in several cars equipped with flashing lights, mimicking service or escort vehicles. After surrounding the armoured van, they allegedly blew open its rear door using explosives, releasing a thick cloud of smoke visible from a distance. The assault, filmed by some motorists and by cameras along the road, lasted only a few minutes but was described by investigators as having paramilitary characteristics.
A patrol from the carabinieri (Italian military police) arrived at the scene and came under fire from the assailants. The service vehicle was hit, but the officers were not injured. No injuries have so far been reported among the security guards or the civilians trapped in the tailback, despite the close-range gunfire. After the raid, the commando fled north towards the Salento area, using several vehicles prepared in advance. During the chaotic escape, some motorists were reportedly forced to hand over their cars, which were then used to leave the area. Searches focused on State Road 7ter and the secondary road network around Squinzano and Campo Panareo.
Carabinieri from the provincial command in Lecce stopped two suspects intercepted on the 7ter and took them to the barracks in Campi Salentina. According to early information, the individuals detained are believed to be from the province of Foggia. Searches continue for the remaining members of the gang, as well as checks to determine whether the robbery was completed or whether the armoured van’s security systems prevented the removal of the cash.
Over the past three years, Puglia has confirmed its position as one of the Italian regions most affected by armoured van attacks, often carried out on state roads and dual carriageways by organised, heavily armed groups. According to data from Savip (Italian private security association), between 2019 and 2023 the region ranked second nationwide for successful assaults, with around €1.6 billion stolen, behind only Sardinia. Looking at a longer timeframe, between 1999 and 2024 the total haul in Puglia exceeds €21.6 billion. The robberies mainly target armoured vehicles bound for post offices and major cash flows, following recurring patterns: the use of military-grade weapons, explosives to breach vehicles, burning vehicles to block the road and security systems that in some cases prevent the theft of cash.
In 2024 alone, at least three incidents were recorded, including attempted and successful raids. These include the attack on the SS96 near Grumo Appula, marked by the use of explosive devices and the burning of multiple vehicles, and the raid in July between Brindisi and Lecce, with an estimated haul of around €3 billion. The main routes involved remain the major extra-urban arteries linking cities and logistics hubs, often in the early morning. Investigations in recent years point to links with criminal groups from the Foggia area and other parts of the southern Adriatic, specialising in militarised assaults. Trade unions representing security guards warn of an escalation in violence and near misses, calling on Prefetture (Prefectures) and the Governo (Government) to strengthen protections, equipment and security protocols for cash-in-transit operations.
