Italian businessman admits organising bomb attack ‘to boost friend’s security’

Valter Lavitola has confessed to masterminding bombing at home of investigative reporter Sigfrido Ranucci An Italian businessman has admitted to masterminding a bomb attack at the home of Sigfrido Ranucci, a prominent investigative journalist, claiming it was intended to boost his security protection. Valter Lavitola, who was friends with Ranucci, the host of Report, an investigative programme aired by the state broadcaster, Rai, made the confession to investigators after his arrest earlier this week in connection with the case, the businessman’s lawyer, Sergio Cola, told the Italian media. It was originally thought that the mafia had been behind the attack in October last year when a rudimentary but powerful bomb was detonated outside Ranucci’s home in a town near Rome, almost destroying his car and another owned by his daughter. Four other people allegedly commissioned by Lavitola were arrested in late June on suspicion of carrying out the attack. Cola said Lavitola had orchestrated the attack in order to boost Ranucci’s security detail amid threats to his life from the mafia. “He did it for Ranucci’s good, because he was a target of attacks,” he said. Lativola denied