Dramatic video footage from southern Italy shows a highly organized highway robbery that unfolded like a scene from an action movie. The incident occurred on a motorway in the Puglia region, where a gang allegedly used a car fitted with flashing blue lights to make an armored vehicle believe it was being escorted. Moments later, chaos erupted as criminals set a truck on fire to block traffic and detonated an explosive device in a nearby van, creating confusion while attempting to seize valuable cargo believed to include luxury goods. Motorists watched in shock as armed suspects moved quickly, and a gunfight briefly broke out with responding police units. Remarkably, no one was seriously injured, though one police vehicle was struck by gunfire during the confrontation.
Authorities say the suspects later hijacked civilian vehicles to escape, abandoning their original car after a countryside chase. Police arrested two individuals following a short pursuit near the town of Squinzano, but several others involved remain at large, with investigators estimating that about six people participated in the operation. Law enforcement officials praised officers’ composure, noting that the situation could easily have turned deadly. Union representatives also raised concerns about the increasing complexity and danger of organized crime operations, warning that police officers are regularly exposed to extreme risks. Investigations are ongoing as authorities continue searching for remaining suspects and assessing how much property or cash was ultimately taken during the bold daylight heist, which many observers compared to scenes straight out of a video game.