The incident took place in broad daylight at a branch of Crédit Agricole on Thursday at around midday local time. Armed robbers held 25 people hostage during a bank heist in Naples. Police surrounded the establishment and negotiated with the thieves for around two hours before the hostages were released. The special forces of the carabinieri armed police were flown in from Tuscany to deal with the crisis. Several hours after their arrival they forced their way in to the bank by breaking a window.
Footage shared on social media shows members of the fire service smashing windows in with battering rams and helping people climb out of windows while covered in shattered glass. People were seen walking out onto the street and shaking off shards of glass while others were seen distressed and in tears as they were met by concerned friends and family. No serious injuries were reported, according to authorities. Six people in a state of shock were treated by medical services.
Local media reports suggest that three or four men were involved in the robbery and wore masks depicting famous actors. Hundreds of safety deposit boxes were stolen and the exact cost of the theft remains unclear. Fanpage.it reported that it was not yet possible to quantify the value of the loot taken because the robbers had seized personal safety deposit boxes rather than cash.
The robbers escaped through a tunnel, but there are conflicting reports about the exact escape method. Local reports suggest that the gang may have dug a hole in the ground overnight and used the sewage system to flee. By the time special forces stormed the bank, the robbers had reportedly escaped through a tunnel, according to local media. It was thought the robbers could have vanished into the sewer system. The livestream showed a number of emergency personnel looking into a manhole near the bank. Detectives are yet to make any arrests but are reported to be searching the sewers around the incident location for evidence.
Several shots and the sounds of a stun gun are reported to have been heard on a live stream of the incident joined by tens of thousands of people as it unfolded. Tens of thousands of people tuned into a livestream from the scene of the crime. A large crowd of bystanders, local residents, and firefighters gathered in the square waiting for developments.
Pictures in local media show how police smashed windows to get into the bank.
The robbery occurred at a Crédit Agricole branch in Naples.
Authorities have confirmed that no serious injuries resulted from the ordeal, and six people in a state of shock were treated by medical services.
The theft involved hundreds of safety deposit boxes, and the exact value of the stolen loot remains unclear.
What is the exact value of the stolen loot from the safety deposit boxes remains unclear. How many robbers were involved is also unknown.
The precise sequence of events and details of the escape route have not been fully detailed.
Detectives are yet to make any arrests but are reported to be searching the sewers around the incident location for evidence.