After hours of anguish and fear, the 17-year-old boy, son of a well-known fruit and vegetable trader from the city of Vittoria, who was kidnapped last night by a four-man commando in front of a group of friends, has been found and is safe.
The boy arrived at the police station this evening to reconstruct what happened. His is a singular kidnapping, and investigators are trying to shed light on it, including through the testimonies of the terrified youths who witnessed the abduction.
The victim, a fourth-year student at the Giuseppe Mazzini high school, was with his group on the outskirts of Vittoria, a residential area. The youths were suddenly approached by two Fiat Pandas, one white and one black. Two hooded men, armed with guns, got out of the black car, shouted the boy's last name and approached him. The 17-year-old, whose face was covered, was forced into the car. The attack lasted just a few seconds, carried out in front of his friends. "We only want him," the bandits reportedly shouted at the group.
The 17-year-old was forced to hand over his cell phone, which, according to witnesses, was then thrown to the ground by the kidnappers to prevent it from being traced. The two cars fled in the direction of the former state road 115, which leads to Gela, Comiso, and Catania. The victim's friends alerted the police.
The search began immediately and continues unabated. Law enforcement agencies—police and Carabinieri—have deployed helicopters and ground patrols. The investigation is being coordinated by the Ragusa prosecutor's office. Dozens of local security cameras, which have filmed passing cars, may be helpful in reconstructing the incident. The site of the kidnapping is located near a large inspection center and mechanic's workshop, which, however, was closed at the time.
In addition to the 17-year-old's friends, investigators interviewed his parents. His father owns a company specializing in the packaging and marketing of fruit and vegetables and agricultural products, one of the most important businesses in the area. Investigative sources report that the investigation is exploring every aspect of the family's history . At the same time, the security and protection measures required for kidnapping cases have been implemented, including the precautionary freezing of assets.
The 17-year-old's parents are well-off, but the family's financial situation does not seem to suggest a kidnapping for ransom.
"I appeal to the kidnappers to release the boy. What happened is extremely serious and disturbs us and leaves us shocked. We hope that the police, who are working to solve the case, can return this young man to his family," said the Bishop of Ragusa, Monsignor Giuseppe La Placa, in a video message. Meanwhile, the mayor of Vittoria, Francesco Aiello, has convened a special meeting to request an increase in law enforcement. "We have been asking for this for years," said Aiello. "There is a need for security. If a mayor asks for help, he has the right to be heard. This episode takes us back in time, thirty years ago, to the kidnapping of the notary Garrasi and to the post-war period with that of little Alfredino Fuschi. We are also concerned about the manner in which the incident occurred: in front of witnesses and with weapons in hand. We hope that this young man can be rescued and returned to his family as soon as possible." The nightmare ended in the evening.