Authorities in Naples are investigating a major bank robbery in which an armed gang reportedly held 25 people hostage before fleeing through an underground passage.
The incident took place on Thursday morning at a branch of Credit Agricole in the southern Italian city. According to initial reports, customers and employees were detained inside the building for approximately two hours before being released unharmed.
Emergency responders were seen breaking windows to help those trapped inside exit the premises. Officials said no injuries were reported during the operation.
Investigators believe the suspects may have gained access to the bank overnight by drilling through the floor, then later escaped through tunnels connected to the city’s sewer network. Police have since launched searches of underground routes in the surrounding area, but no arrests have been announced so far.
Authorities said hundreds of safety deposit boxes were forced open during the robbery, making it difficult at this stage to determine the total financial losses.
Local media reported that three or four individuals may have been involved. The suspects were also said to have worn masks resembling well-known actors.
https://e3.365dm.com/26/04/768×432/skynews-naples-robbery_7222292.jpg?20260417033039
One person who was inside the bank told Italian outlet Fanpage.it that both customers and staff were confined to a room while the robbery took place. The witness said the suspects were armed but did not physically assault anyone.
Later in the day, numerous customers gathered outside the branch seeking clarification about what had been taken. Some expressed concern over whether cash reserves or private deposit boxes had been targeted, and how many boxes had been opened.
The investigation remains ongoing as police work to identify those responsible and assess the full extent of the theft.
