In a dramatic bank heist in Naples, Italy, armed individuals reportedly took 25 hostages and held them for approximately two hours before making their escape through a tunnel that led to the sewage system.
According to local authorities, three masked individuals, one of whom was confirmed to be armed, entered a branch of the French Credit Agricole bank at around 11:30 AM local time. They took both customers and staff members captive while making off with valuables from numerous safe deposit boxes.
The hostages were successfully rescued about two hours later, with Naples Prefect Michele di Bari stating, “Thanks to the swift response, all the hostages were freed shortly after 1:30 PM, without serious injuries.”
Local media reported that police had to break windows to gain entry into the bank. Subsequent investigation revealed that the robbers had escaped via a tunnel that connected to the sewage system.
When questioned about the value of the stolen items, the police spokesperson remarked, “Only the clients are aware of the contents of those boxes.”
Approximately 40 police officers, including units with sniffer dogs, were deployed to search for the suspects. Forensic teams were also present at the scene to collect fingerprints.
One of the hostages recounted to the news outlet Fanpage.it that while they were confined in a room, the assailants did not resort to violence.
A large gathering of police, firefighters, and local residents formed outside the bank, eagerly awaiting updates on the situation. Many people also tuned into a live stream from the crime scene, which attracted tens of thousands of viewers.
Officials reported that an armed unit from the carabinieri was dispatched from Tuscany but did not arrive until several hours later. The team ultimately breached the bank’s interior by breaking a window and deploying what appeared to be stun grenades, as captured in the live coverage. However, by that time, the robbers had already fled the scene, and police and firefighters were seen inspecting a manhole cover in their search efforts after the area was cleared.
