At least six armed robbers carried out an audacious attack on an armored vehicle on a highway in Southern Italy early yesterday morning. Dressed in ski masks and equipped with Kalashnikov rifles, the assailants blew off the driver's side door of the armored car and opened fire on police officers who responded to the scene, fortunately escaping injury. The robbery took place between the towns of Lecce and Brindisi in the Puglia region, with video footage showing the robbers executing their plan with military precision, some taking cover behind vehicles while others prepared explosives.

Despite the intensity of the attack and the use of firearms, the police reported that the robbers did not manage to take any cash from the armored vehicle, although they did remove other items from it. This incident has raised concerns about the safety of cash transport in Italy, especially as such armed attacks are becoming increasingly bold and violent. The police are now conducting an investigation to unravel the identities of the robbers and the intent behind their actions.

This incident underscores a growing trend of organized crime in Italy, particularly in regions like Puglia where such heists are becoming more frequent. The use of heavy weaponry and explosives signifies a dangerous escalation in tactics by criminal groups. Authorities are now faced with the challenge of not only increasing police presence in vulnerable areas but also finding ways to prevent future occurrences of such brazen robberies, which threaten public safety and the integrity of financial institutions.