Armed robbers held 25 people hostage in Naples bank heist before ‘fleeing through sewage tunnels’
April 17, 2026
The incident took place in broad daylight with armed police flown in from Tuscany to deal with the crisis
A brazen daylight robbery in Naples saw armed assailants hold 25 people hostage inside a bank before making a dramatic escape through the city's sewer system on Thursday. The meticulously planned heist targeted a branch of Crédit Agricole in the bustling Arenella district, leaving customers and employees shaken but largely unharmed. The incident, which began around 11:30 a.m., triggered a massive police response that included the deployment of special forces.
Three or four masked robbers, at least one of whom was confirmed to be armed, initiated the siege, quickly taking control of the bank on Piazza Medaglie d'Oro. They herded the 25 individuals inside, including staff and customers, into a single room while they proceeded with the robbery. According to one hostage who later spoke with local media, the captors were armed but did not use violence against them. For approximately two hours, police surrounded the building and engaged in negotiations with the suspects inside.
The standoff concluded shortly after 1:30 p.m. when authorities stormed the bank, smashing windows to facilitate the rescue of the hostages. While some of the freed individuals were treated for shock by medical services at the scene, Naples Prefect Michele di Bari confirmed in a statement that there were no serious injuries. By the time law enforcement entered the premises, however, the robbers had vanished. Investigators discovered a hole in the bank's floor, which led to the complex network of sewage tunnels beneath the city, providing the criminals with a well-planned escape route.
Authorities, including Naples prosecutor Nicola Gratteri who arrived at the scene, have launched an extensive investigation. The focus of the heist appears to have been the bank's safe deposit boxes, with reports indicating that the contents of dozens of boxes were stolen. The total value of the stolen goods remains unknown, as only the clients themselves are aware of the contents of their boxes. A significant police presence, including around 40 officers and sniffer dogs, is now combing the area and the vast sewer system for any trace of the perpetrators.
This elaborate method of entry and escape mirrors a similar bank robbery that occurred in Milan in 2020, which also targeted a Crédit Agricole branch and utilized the city's sewer network. The immediate next steps for law enforcement involve a thorough forensic examination of the bank and an intensive search of the subterranean passages. As the city reels from the audacious crime, customers of the bank are anxiously awaiting more information about their stolen property while investigators work to identify and apprehend the elusive suspects.
Source: independentuk