Several armed men robbed a bank in broad daylight in Naples, holding 25 people hostage for about two hours before a dramatic rescue operation freed them without serious injuries. The robbery began around midday local time, or 10:00 GMT, according to multiple reports. Police surrounded a branch of Crédit Agricole in Naples shortly after the robbery started.
Local outlets reported that police negotiated with the robbers before the hostages could be released. A dramatic rescue operation ensued, with firemen smashing in a window with battering rams and helping people climb out from inside. Some hostages shook off glass shards and walked out, while others looked visibly shaken, crying and hugging relatives.
All hostages were freed shortly after 13:30 without serious injuries. Six people, who were in a state of shock, were offered medical assistance, and nobody was seriously injured. The hostages included both customers and employees, multiple reports indicate.
Public attention swelled as videos of the rescue were shared on social media. A large crowd of bystanders, local residents, and firefighters gathered in the square waiting for developments, with tens of thousands of people tuning into a livestream from the scene. A crowd continued to mill about the square even after the initial rescue.
Meanwhile, the robbers escaped with loot from dozens of safe deposit boxes. Local media reported that the robbers had escaped through a tunnel, and it was thought they could have vanished into the sewer system. The video feed later showed carabinieri and firefighters peering into a manhole nearby.
Police tactics involved special forces, with members of the special forces of the carabinieri armed police urgently flown in from Tuscany. Several hours later, police stormed the bank by breaking a window, and pictures in local media show police smashing windows to get into the bank. Several shots and loud noises of stun grenades could be heard on the live feed shortly after the storming.
The rescue operation unfolded under intense public scrutiny, with the livestream capturing real-time developments as authorities worked to secure the area and ensure the hostages' safety.