Italy arrests Berlusconi associate in Ranucci bomb attack

Italian police arrested businessman Valter Lavitola, who had ties to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, over a bomb attack last year outside the home of television journalist Sigfrido Ranucci.

Rome's carabinieri police said Lavitola was the alleged mastermind of the October 16 attack in Pomezia, south of Rome. They accused him of instructing Tavares Gomes Clesio to recruit four men arrested in June, who are accused of placing the bomb.

Police said Lavitola and Gomes took part in an initial inspection outside Ranucci's home in September. Gomes is still being sought.

Authorities wrote in an arrest warrant that Lavitola thought the bombing would raise Ranucci's profile ahead of a possible career in politics, according to local media.

Ranucci, host of the weekly investigative programme "Report" on state broadcaster Rai, is not accused of wrongdoing, and detectives believe he was unaware of Lavitola's alleged plans. He was not injured in the blast, which damaged two cars and part of a gate outside his home.

Ranucci has investigated sensitive subjects including Italy's mafia and political corruption and has lived under police protection for years. Lavitola, a former journalist and import-export businessman, was close to Berlusconi, who died in 2023.