Bari, police operation against group planning looting in city centre
The State Police conducted an operation coordinated by the anti-mafia district directorate and the juvenile prosecutor's office. Dozens of young people were organising robberies in city centre shops.
Police operation against looters
From the early hours of dawn, the State Police conducted a large-scale operation throughout the province of Bari with coordination from the Anti-Mafia District Directorate and the Juvenile Prosecutor's Office. According to questure.poliziadistato.it, a sizeable group of young people and teenagers were preparing to loot shops in the city centre, following events that had affected Milan the previous weekend.
The identified targets were located on Via Sparano, Via Melo, Via Argiro and Corso Vittorio Emanuele, with focus on high-end Italian and international fashion shops, as well as sports and electronics retailers. The Digos unit of the Bari Police Headquarters monitored social media constantly, through which the young people were coordinating for the planned action to begin in the afternoon.
Investigators established that the group was attempting to obtain weapons, explosive material and burglary tools to be used also against law enforcement. Numerous searches and questioning sessions are underway, delegated to the Digos and the Mobile Squad.
The alleged offences include incitement to crime aimed at destruction and looting for purposes of terrorism, jointly, as well as possession of weapons, ammunition and explosives. The proceeding is in the preliminary investigation phase; those under investigation are to be presumed innocent until final judgement.
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)