Several armed men robbed a bank in broad daylight in Naples, holding 25 people hostage before making their escape via a tunnel, according to local media. Police surrounded a branch of Crédit Agricole in Naples shortly after the robbery began around midday local time (10:00 GMT). Local outlets reported that police negotiated with the robbers before the hostages could be released, about two hours into the robbery.
Firemen smashed in a window with battering rams and helped people climb out from inside, as seen in videos shared on social media. Six people, who were in a state of shock, were offered medical assistance, but nobody was seriously injured. Regional official Michele di Bari said all the hostages were freed shortly after 13:30 without serious injuries.
A large crowd of bystanders, local residents and firefighters gathered in the square waiting for developments, while tens of thousands of people tuned into a livestream from the scene. Members of the special forces of the carabinieri armed police were urgently flown in from Tuscany. Several hours later, special forces stormed the bank by breaking a window.
Several shots and the loud noises of stun grenades could be heard on the live feed shortly after the storming. The robbers had reportedly escaped through a tunnel, possibly into the sewer system, according to local media. The video feed later showed a number of carabinieri and firefighters peering into a manhole nearby as a crowd continued to mill about the square.
It remains unknown how many robbers were involved, what specific items or amount of money was stolen, and whether any suspects have been identified or arrested. The exact route or destination of the tunnel and the motive behind the robbery are also unclear.