‘Car bomb’ found attached to local official’s vehicle in Rome sparking alert ahead of Euro 2020 game

A suspected car bomb has been found attached to a local official’s vehicle in Rome, sparking an alert ahead of Italy‘s Euro 2020 game in the city. 

The device was discovered in the Piazza Mancini area of the capital, a couple of miles away from Rome’s Olympic stadium where Italy are playing Switzerland tonight. 

The suspected bomb was found inside the car of Marco Doria, the president for the redevelopment of parks and historic villas in Rome, before it was safely diffused by the authorities, reports Corriere dello Sport. 

The device was discovered in the Piazza Mancini area of the capital, a couple of miles away from Rome’s Olympic stadium where Italy are playing Switzerland tonight

The bomb squad removed all of the items inside the car as they responded to the suspected car bomb

The suspected bomb was found inside the car of Marco Doria, the president for the redevelopment of parks and historic villas in Rome, before it was safely diffused by the authorities

Football fans had been passing through the area on Wednesday night, but the roads surrounding the scene were blocked by police after a passer-by reported a suspicious package inside the grey smart car at around 5.40pm.   

A bomb squad and police arrived at the scene and video footage shows the one officer reaching into front passenger seat of the car. There was no explosion from the device.  

Police had cordoned off the area, and onlookers stood watch as police opened the doors and boot of the car as they diffused the device, which was reportedly filled with gunpowder and bolts and attached to wires according to local media.

Italian MP Carlo Calenda suggested that Mr Doria had been targeted following the redevelopment of historic Roman villas in the city. Mr Doria has reportedly faced threats in the past over the redevelopment.

Police had cordoned off the area, and onlookers stood watch as police opened the doors and boot of the car as they diffused the device, which was reportedly filled with gunpowder and bolts and attached to wires according to local media

A bomb squad and police arrived at the scene and video footage shows them stood by the silver car

The device was discovered in the Piazza Mancini area of the capital, a couple of miles away from Rome’s Olympic stadium where Italy are playing Switzerland tonight

Mr Calenda tweeted: ‘The discovery of an explosive device in Marco Doria’s car, which follows the redevelopment of the historic Roman villas, is a very serious fact. All our solidarity goes to him. 

‘Dissent is lawful but any form of intimidation or aggression is unacceptable.’ 

Virginia Raggi, the mayor of Rome, tweeted her ‘full solidarity’ with Mr Doria. 

She said: ‘A bomb was found in the car of Marco Doria, president of the Table for the redevelopment of parks and historic villas in Rome. A very serious fact, I express my full solidarity.’      

This is a breaking news story, more to follow…