Explosion at home of Spada witness
Homemade bomb on balcony of parents' house in Ostia
redazione ANSA
ROME
03 October 2018
14:35
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(ANSA) - Rome, October 3 - A homemade bomb exploded on Tuesday night at the Ostia home of the parents of a woman who aided investigators in the Spada mafia clan case, which resulted in the arrest of 32 people. Police and a bomb squad were called to the scene and found an additional rudimentary explosive underneath the building. An investigation is underway.
The father said the bomb was thrown onto his balcony.
The explosion partially damaged the window shutters.
Rome Mayor Virgina Raggi tweeted #Let'sNotLetOurGuardDown: the institutions are at your side".
The Spadas have been investigated on charges including drug trafficking, loan-sharking, gambling, social housing scams, and for clashing with a rival clan over control of the Ostia area on the Roman coast.
One of their members, Roberto Spada, hit headlines last November by attacking a journalistic crew.
In June he got a six-year jail term for the brutal attack on two members of a crew working for State broadcaster RAI in the aftermath of elections in Ostia.
The court recognized that the use of mafia methods was an aggravating factor in the assault.
While being asked about the Spadas' alleged support for far-right group CasaPound, Roberto Spada head-butted and broke the nose of RAI reporter Daniele Piervincenzi and also attacked cameraman Edoardo Anselmi on November 7.
Anselmi suffered bruising on his back after being hit with a stick but still managed to get the footage that led to the eventual conviction.
The Spada clan, who are of Roma origin, have long ruled the underworld in Ostia, Rome's ancient port and now a popular beach resort.
In January police and Carabinieri officers in Ostia arrested 32 people including the alleged chief of the Spada clan, Carmine Spada.
In one wiretap leading to the arrests, a victim of extortion described how Carmine aka 'Romoletto' Spada came to his restaurant with a flame-thrower saying "this isn't threatening you, it's going to kill you".
Another victim said "these people aren't going to stop at anything, and if Romolo (Carmine) doesn't get the money he'll kill us all".