It was a night straight out of an action film in Villa Verucchio, where at around 4am a gang of robbers attacked the ATM at the Banca Malatestiana branch on Via Tenuta Amalia using explosives. The blast was heard across the area, waking dozens of residents.
Watch the video showing the aftermath of the violent raid: the explosion devastated the branch, causing extensive damage inside the building.
According to initial reports, the masked robbers first forced their way into the bank before blowing up the cash machine. Once they had grabbed the money, they fled the scene. The full extent of the haul is still being assessed.
To secure their escape, the criminals are believed to have scattered tripod-shaped nails along the Marecchiese road, puncturing the tyres of several passing vehicles and causing traffic disruption.
The fire brigade responded to the scene and secured the area, while carabinieri launched an investigation. Detectives are now combing through CCTV footage in an effort to identify those responsible for the heist.
