Italy police say businessman with ties to Berlusconi is mastermind behind journalist bomb attack

TL;DR

Valter Lavitola, a businessman with ties to former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, is accused of masterminding a bomb attack on journalist Sigfrido Ranucci.
The attack, which occurred in October, destroyed two cars at Ranucci's home in Pomezia.
Police arrested Lavitola, who allegedly believed the bombing would enhance Ranucci's public profile for a political career.
Ranucci, known for investigations into corruption and the mafia, has been under police protection since 2021.
Lavitola is accused of instructing Tavares Gomes Clesio to recruit four men to plant the bomb; the four men were arrested in June.
Lavitola and Gomes Clesio allegedly conducted an initial inspection of Ranucci's home in September.
Lavitola and Silvio Berlusconi each received a three-year sentence in 2015 for bribing a senator.
The attack occurred on the eighth anniversary of the car bomb slaying of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

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