Rome Explosion: Anarchist Cell Linked to Alfredo Cospito Under Investigation
An explosion at an abandoned farmhouse in Rome’s Parco degli Acquedotti on March 20, 2026, resulted in the deaths of two individuals identified as members of an anarchist network connected to jailed extremist Alfredo Cospito. Authorities are investigating whether the group was preparing an attack, with potential targets including railway junctions, police facilities and Carabinieri barracks.
The Explosion and Victims
The incident occurred at a disused farmhouse known as Casale del Sellaretto. The victims have been identified as Sara Ardizzone, 35, and Alessandro Mercogliano, 53. Both were known to police for their involvement in the anarchist movement and their association with Alfredo Cospito, currently incarcerated.
Mercogliano had previously been acquitted on appeal of charges related to association with terrorist intent as part of the Scripta Manent investigation into the Informal Anarchist Federation. Ardizzone had been investigated alongside Cospito for incitement to crime and evasion, and identified herself as an enemy of the state. The condition of the bodies suggested they were assembling a homemade bomb at the time of the explosion.
Potential Targets and Device Construction
The Anti-terrorism Strategic Analysis Committee convened on March 21, 2026, to assess the situation and potential threats. Investigators believe the device was constructed using fertilizer and a trigger, making it unstable for transport.
Possible targets of interest to the anarchist group included a railway junction, the Tuscolano police hub, and a Carabinieri barracks in the south-east quadrant of Rome. Still, authorities are not ruling out other potential targets.
Ongoing Investigations
Following the explosion, five searches were conducted by Rome’s Digos police at apartments linked to the anarchist sphere. Various anarchist-related materials were seized and are currently under review. Two individuals associated with the group were questioned but are not currently believed to be directly involved in the planned action.
Investigators are focusing on the logistics of the operation, including why the farmhouse was chosen and the source of the explosives. The presence of nails found at the scene suggests the device was intended to cause significant harm, potentially representing an escalation from previous demonstrative actions.
Strategic Anti-Terrorism Response
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi convened the Strategic Anti-Terrorism Analysis Committee (Casa) on March 21, 2026, to address the threat posed by the anarchist movement. and The investigation is ongoing, with authorities scrutinizing the network of anarchists in multiple Italian cities to determine the full extent of the planned attack.