There are over 30 journalists under armed escort in Italy. And Mario Sechi, the director of Libero, is just the latest journalist to come under state protection. As Sechi himself wrote, "I became a target of anarchist terrorism because I think and write." It was a phone call that changed his life. It came from the prefect of Milan, Claudio Sgaraglia, followed by a visit from police chief Bruno Megale, who formally communicated the need for protection.
According to the most recent data from the Osservatorio Ossigeno per l'Informazione, although 30 journalists are under escort, the number rises considerably if forms of dynamic surveillance and protection are considered, exceeding 200 total cases. While in the past the main threat came from organized crime, today there are changes with strong peaks related to political extremism, subversive movements, and investigations into white-collar crime.
Mario Sechi was assigned a police escort due to threats from the anarcho-insurrectionist galaxy after his editorials on the events in Rome. But along with Sechi, many other journalists are under escort in Italy. Starting with Massimo Giletti. The journalist and presenter has been under escort since 2020 following threats from Palermo boss Filippo Graviano, who was intercepted in prison while railing against the presenter for episodes of Non è l'Arena dedicated to the release of mafiosi during the pandemic.
Next is Lirio Abbate, who has been under escort for years for his investigations into Cosa Nostra, the ties between mafia and politics, and the capture of fugitives. He was in the direct crosshairs of boss Leoluca Bagarella. Also: Paolo Borrometi has been living under armed escort since 2014. His investigations into the mafia of Scicli and eastern Sicily led to the dissolution of municipalities and very heavy conviction decrees. A car bomb attack was planned against him, fortunately thwarted.
Calabrian reporter Michele Albanese has been under escort since 2014 for reporting on the rites and business of the 'Ndrangheta in the Gioia Tauro plain. Then, veteran investigative journalist Sandro Ruotolo, who came under escort after death threats from Casalesi boss Michele Zagaria due to his investigations into toxic waste trafficking in Campania. More recently, Nello Trocchia has been added to the list. He is under escort for his investigations into organized crime in Rome and Lazio, particularly the clans of Ostia and lower Lazio, and for investigations into the Camorra in Campania. Another investigative journalist under escort is Salvo Palazzolo of Repubblica, who has been writing about the mafia for years and has received death threats.
For writing investigations into Rome and its coastline, Repubblica reporter Federica Angeli has been living under escort for 13 years, having torn the veil of omertà on the Spada clan in Ostia. Her case is one of the most famous for resilience and professional continuity despite forced isolation.
The hosts of Italy's main investigative journalism programs are often in the crosshairs due to the amplification power of their networks. Starting with Sigfrido Ranucci, the host of Report (Rai 3), who lives under escort due to death threats from both mafia environments linked to the subversive right and investigations into financial fraud, international trafficking, and corruption. There are also lesser-known names, but always in the crosshairs of crime, such as Marilena Natale, a reporter from Caserta who lives under strict escort for her courageous denunciations against factions of the Casalesi clan. (by Elvira Terranova)
