Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has defended a homeowner who shot and wounded a masked intruder during an attempted robbery near Rovigo, saying the case proves the value of Italy’s strengthened self-defence laws.
“Self-defence is always legitimate,” Meloni said after prosecutors confirmed the 68-year-old will not be investigated under the revised rules governing excessive force. Deputy PM Matteo Salvini credited League-backed reforms for protecting “law-abiding citizens.”
The break-in occurred at night in Grignano Polesine. Prosecutors say the resident, armed with a legally registered gun, warned the trespasser before firing at non-vital areas. The assailant, carrying at least one screwdriver and believed not to have been acting alone, attempted to strike the homeowner despite the alarm sounding.
Rovigo prosecutor Manuela Fasolato said the conditions for lawful defence were met: a current threat, proportional use of a legally held weapon, and no sign the aggressor intended to stop. The intruder, injured, fled and is wanted for aggravated attempted robbery.
The case falls under Italy’s updated penal code Article 52, shielding homeowners who act to protect people or property when faced with an ongoing attack.
