A high-powered bomb exploded Friday
night in front of the entrance to Ottana town hall, in the Nuoro
area, local sources said Saturday.
Serious damage was caused to the façade and some offices.
Police said the bomb was built with 3-4 kilos of high explosives
and caused huge damage to the exterior of the building and the
ground floor, blowing out windows and doors and scattering
furniture.
The building did not, however, suffer structural damage and was
judged by an initial examination to be usable, although tests on
the upper floors will be completed on Monday morning.
Police have already acquired security camera footage at the time
of the incident.
Mayor Franco Saba has received the solidarity of colleagues and
friends and the prefect of Nuoro, Giancarlo Dionisi, has called
a meeting of the public safety and security committee for Monday
morning.
"What happened is an extremely serious incident and I expressed
my deepest sympathy to the town's first citizen," Prefect
Dionisi told ANSA.
"On Monday we will assess the situation at the public safety
committee, but what I can say already is that this is not a
'hot' zone: the last bomb against an administrator dates back to
2010, so this was a bolt from the blue.
"Naturally we will go into the matter in depth both to reach a
solution to the case as soon as possible, and to understand what
is lurking beneath this attack in this town".
Saba, the mayor, told Italian TV: "Ottana does not deserve this,
and we will continue to work as we have always done.
"I'm very disappointed, and with me the whole administration. If
someone has something to complain about let them do so publicly,
let them demonstrate that we are not doing a good job."
Sardinia's new Governor Alessandra Todde said "this was a
cowardly attack on the whole community."
She said "violence cannot and must not find space in our society
and our communities.
"I express closeness and solidarity with the mayor and with all
the citizens of Ottana."
Police said the "grave initimidatory act" was not linked to
upcoming elections in 28 Sardinian towns, since Ottana is not
one of them.
Investigators have also ruled out any link to ongoing protests
in the Nuoro area against the installation of renewable energy
plants.
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