Caivano, attack on a reporter's house in the Vicenza area. Meloni: inadmissible attack on press freedom

There are also threats addressed to the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as to don Patriciello and the victim, in the letter left in front of the house of Adriano Cappellari, the reporter from Enego (Vicenza) who was the target of an arson attack last night. Cappellari had already received similar anonymous letters containing threats and invitations to stop his activity, some accompanied by photographs and direct references to his articles and the subjects told, with accusations against Meloni and Patriciello. Individuals threw one or more burning bottles at the house, also leaving gas canisters.

"I want to express all my closeness to Adriano Cappellari, who was the object of a very serious arson attack at his home in Enego this night. Threatening a reporter who chooses to shed light on difficult realities such as that of Caivano and on the precious commitment of those who, like Don Maurizio Patriciello, are on the front line at the service of their community, is unacceptable and represents an inadmissible attack on the freedom of the press and information'. These are the words of the President of the Council, Giorgia Meloni. 'I am certain that Adriano Cappellari will not be intimidated and will continue to carry out his work, as he has done so far. Italia needs brave young people like him, who are not afraid to denounce and document what does not work, to try to change it and make our society fairer and stronger. A hug to Adriano, his family and his colleagues in the editorial staff of L'Altopiano

"I express my solidarity with the Vicenza reporter Adriano Cappellari, the target of another serious and cowardly act of intimidation. Hitting a journalist for his work means hitting freedom of information, an essential garrison of democracy. My sympathy goes out to Mr Cappellari and his family, together with the encouragement to continue their work by reporting the truth of the facts'. Thus the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana. "Hitting those who inform means attacking the freedom of the press, a pillar of our democracy. The serious intimidation suffered by journalist Adriano Cappellari is intolerable and incompatible with democracy. In the face of those who want to spread fear, the State will not take a single step backwards and will deploy all instruments to quickly identify those responsible without underestimation or delay. To him, his family and his colleagues, goes our total solidarity. The same that we reiterate to Don Maurizio Patriciello, tireless and courageous man of peace, and to the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who are also targets of delirious threats'. Thus Paolo Emilio Russo, MP and Forza Italia national press relations officer, in a note.

"My strongest condemnation of the serious act of intimidation committed against journalist Adriano Cappellari. Freedom of the press is one of the pillars of our democracy, and any threat against a reporter constitutes an attack on the citizens' right to be informed," emphasises Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli. "I offer Cappellari my full solidarity, along with that of the Ministry of Culture. I also express my closeness to Don Maurizio Patriciello, who has courageously defended legality for years, and to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who have also been the target of threats. In the face of such serious episodes, it is necessary to firmly reiterate that the State does not retreat in the face of those who attempt to spread fear and violence. Those who work every day to affirm truth, legality and respect for the rules must receive the unanimous support of the institutions".

"I express my full solidarity and sympathy to Adriano Cappellari, a young journalist from Vicenza, whose house in Enego was hit by a serious arson attack in the night. Hitting the home of a journalist is disturbing and unacceptable. No intimidation against those who inform and denounce can be underestimated'. This was stated in a note by the President of the Veneto Regional Council, Luca Zaia. "The picture that emerges is particularly worrying,' he continued. 'These are facts of extreme gravity that require attention and a firm response. When a reporter is threatened because of what he writes and his home is hit, it is not only a person's safety that is at stake, but also the freedom of the press and the citizens' right to be informed. I renew my sympathy and that of the entire Veneto Regional Council to Adriano Cappellari. His commitment to reporting on difficult realities must not become a reason for isolation or personal exposure. On the contrary, it must strengthen the support of all institutions for those who do their work with responsibility and courage. I hope that the investigations will shed full light on the incident as soon as possible,' Zaia concludes. 'I thank the Carabinieri and the fire brigade who were on the scene. To Adriano Cappellari I say clearly: you are not alone".