An explosive device was placed in October 2024 outside the home of Sigfrido Ranucci, host of the Rai investigative program Report, in Pomezia. Valter Lavitola, a businessman with prior convictions and an acquaintance of the journalist, is accused of being the instigator of the attack and is under investigation for complicity in explosion with the aggravating circumstance of mafia-like methods.

According to what has emerged from the investigation, Lavitola allegedly paid between 5,000 and 10,000 euros for the attack, a figure resulting from admissions and investigative calculations. The sum would have been divided among four individuals arrested at the end of June: Antonio Passariello, Pellegrino D'Avino, Saverio Mutone, and Marika De Filippis, plus a fifth person currently at liberty. A portion of the money would reportedly have been spent on a trip to Sicily.

Prosecutors Carlo Villani and Edoardo De Santis are continuing their work on Lavitola's motive. One lead being explored is that Lavitola, without Ranucci's knowledge, attempted to push the journalist toward a political candidacy with the center-left, having commissioned polls to gauge the favorability of such a candidacy. A second, reportedly weaker lead concerns carbon credit deals in Cameroon.

Gomes Clesio Tavares, Lavitola's assistant, is considered by investigators to have acted as an intermediary with the group that planted the device. Tavares, who is currently in Cameroon, told Tg1 that he had purchased a return ticket to Italy but decided not to travel due to legal developments and ongoing work commitments. Tavares acknowledged knowing Passariello and D'Avino, explaining that he had worked with D'Avino for years in the security sector. He also confirmed being the godfather of D'Avino's son.

Lavitola reportedly sent a message to Tavares in recent days suggesting they stop communicating, noting that both police and Carabinieri had visited him.

Rai has suspended summer reruns of Report pending clarification of the affair. The editorial team of the program has rallied around Ranucci, who has denied any conditioning of his work. The network is also investigating whether Lavitola's bed-and-breakfast, Il Faro Gianicolense, was ever used as a meeting place for Report sources or interviews, and whether Rai ever made payments to Lavitola's company on behalf of the program. The analysis of cell phones and USB drives seized from Lavitola during a search on July 4 is expected to provide further elements.

The case has prompted political reactions. Representatives of the center-right majority have commented favorably on the suspension of the reruns, calling for full clarity. Senate President Ignazio La Russa relaunched a past statement by Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein, who, the day after the attack, had linked the episode to the risks for press freedom under a right-wing government. FdI called for Schlein to apologize. The Democratic Party responded by asking La Russa not to act as a party leader. The Five Star Movement criticized the suspension, calling it a political decision harmful to the public service and its audiences.