The robbery began around midday local time (10:00 GMT) at a branch of Crédit Agricole in Naples. Police surrounded the bank shortly after the robbery started, and local outlets reported that negotiations with the robbers took place before the hostages could be released, about two hours into the incident. Members of the special forces of the carabinieri armed police were urgently flown in from Tuscany to assist in the response.
A rescue operation ensued, with firemen smashing in a window with battering rams and helping people climb out from inside. Six people, who were in a state of shock, were offered medical assistance, but nobody was seriously injured. According to regional official Michele di Bari, all the hostages were freed shortly after 13:30 without serious injuries.
Public attention was intense, with a large crowd of bystanders, local residents, and firefighters gathering in the square waiting for developments. Tens of thousands of people tuned into a livestream from the scene of the crime. Several hours later, police stormed the bank by breaking a window.
Shortly after police stormed the bank, several shots and the loud noises of stun grenades could be heard on the live feed. Following the storming, it was discovered that 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 video feed later showed a number of carabinieri and firefighters peering into a manhole nearby. The incident unfolded over several hours, with the initial robbery occurring at midday and the hostage release happening shortly after 13:30. Investigations are ongoing, with key unknowns including how many robbers were involved, what specific items or amount of money was stolen, and how the robbers accessed or prepared the tunnel for escape.
Authorities have not yet identified or arrested any suspects, and the exact motive behind the robbery remains unclear.