"Sigfrido Ranucci, who hosts a prime-time show on Rai, Italy's state broadcaster, is known for presenting hard-hitting investigations into political corruption and organised crime. Earlier this month, a powerful bomb almost destroyed his black Mercedes, which was parked outside his home near Rome. The attack appeared to be timed to coincide with the eighth anniversary of the assassination of the Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The likelihood is that this was a mafia operation."
"The winter series of Mr Ranucci's Report programme which kicked off this week will include investigations into the 'Ndrangheta organised crime group in Calabria, which has repeatedly threatened him in the past. He has been receiving enhanced police protection since 2021. As Mr Ranucci has been quick to point out, however, the freedom of the press in Italy is not only being menaced by mobsters. Vexatious litigation is also on the rise."
The anni di piombo decades of political terrorism and mafia violence left deep societal scars. A retired police officer was arrested over the 1980 mafia murder of Sicilian president Piersanti Mattarella. A powerful bomb recently nearly destroyed investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci's car outside his home, apparently timed near the eighth anniversary of Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination and likely the work of the mafia. Mr Ranucci's Report will investigate the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria. He has received enhanced police protection since 2021. Press freedom in Italy also faces rising vexatious litigation and political pressure from the radical-right coalition government.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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