[REVISION HISTORY]

Italian ATM bombings and fatal explosion near Andria

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2026-09-08 07:18 UTC → 2026-09-08 15:36 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The improvised‑explosive ATM attacks that began in late May 2026 across Puglia have expanded beyond the original sites. The wave of violence, characterized by the use of the “marmotta” technique—inserting explosive devices into machines—was noted in early May in Giovinazzo and later in Orta Nova, where three ATMs were targeted. In June, coordinated attacks hit Cerignola, Lecce, and Scorrano, while a major robbery in Riccia, Molise, involved masked men and caused significant local panic. By early July, the activity spread through Basilicata and Calabria, with incidents in Oppido Lucano, Bernalda, and Varapodio. Following incidents in Bisceglie, Pescorocchiano, and Fondi, investigators reported a related episode on July 22 in Cassano delle Murge. Four men were arrested after fleeing in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta with over €35,000 in cash and materials used to manufacture “marmotta” devices. In mid-August, the violence intensified with attacks in Bari, Manfredonia, and Siracusa. By late August, a resurgence occurred in Calabria, and in Cerignola, officials warned that recurring attacks could lead banks to permanently deactivate ATMs. On September 1, an explosion targeted a Banca Agricola Popolare di Sicilia ATM in Francofonte, Sicily, which the FABI banking union described as part of a “criminal escalation.” On September 6, a violent explosion near Andria resulted in the deaths of a Romanian man and an Italian man, both approximately 40 years old. Investigators from the Trani Prosecutor's Office believe the men were handling explosives to manufacture “marmotte” devices. A stolen SUV was discovered near the site, and authorities are investigating whether the blast was an accidental error during the assembly of the devices. On September 8, a BAPS bank branch in Lentini, Sicily, was targeted in an explosive ATM attack. The explosion caused significant structural damage to the bank premises and affected nearby parked vehicles.

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