On Monday morning, a bold robbery attempt took place along the main highway linking Brindisi and Lecce in Italy's Puglia region. Masked and heavily armed assailants ambushed an armored cash-in-transit vehicle, which was operated by the Battistolli Group’s BTV security service. The attackers, numbering at least six, employed a violent strategy by blocking both directions of State Road 613 with a burning van and truck, effectively setting up a barricade to prevent any escape or intervention by law enforcement. Witnesses shared dramatic video footage of the incident on social media, showing the chaos that ensued.

During the assault, the robbers, who appeared well-prepared and coordinated, used rifles to fire upon the armored vehicle before detonating explosives in their attempt to breach its defenses. The explosion created a scene of thick smoke, with clips showing the vehicle's doors and roof being blown off. However, despite the intense effort to gain access to the cash inside, reports indicate that the van's robust internal security features thwarted their plan, and no cash was stolen in the end.

Authorities responded swiftly to the incident, deploying Carabinieri units to the scene. This brazen attack not only highlights the growing trend of organized crime specifically targeting cash transport vehicles in Italy but also raises concerns about public safety in the region. The use of explosives and the impersonation of police vehicles underscores an alarming level of planning and escalation in criminal tactics, prompting a reassessment of security measures for transporting cash and the safety protocols for similar vulnerable operations on public roads.