A powerful explosion ripped through an Italian weapons factory owned by the Franco-German defense group KNDS, a major supplier of munitions to Ukraine. The incident occurred near the town of Colleferro, approximately 45 kilometers southeast of Rome, on Thursday.
No casualties were reported in the blast, though 24 workers were inside the facility at the time and all were confirmed safe by Italian broadcaster RAI. Mayor Giulio Calamita stated that the community of roughly 50,000 people, which has longstanding ties to the plant, narrowly avoided a tragedy because many employees had been away for summer holidays.
Footage circulating online showed flames rising behind multiple buildings before a massive explosion sent burning debris into the air.
KNDS operates the facility through its subsidiary, KNDS Ammo Italy. The plant manufactures medium- and large-caliber ammunition, including 155mm artillery shells that are reportedly supplied to Ukraine via European intermediaries. KNDS has maintained close defense ties with Ukraine’s military and established a subsidiary in Kiev in 2024.
A preliminary investigation by Italian authorities found no indications of foul play, according to law enforcement sources. The Colleferro site has a history of deadly accidents linked to weapons production, having been owned previously by Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino (BPD), Snia Viscosa, and Simmel Difesa before being acquired in 2014 by Nexter Systems, which later rebranded as KNDS France.
In 2007, an explosion on a munitions packaging line killed one worker and injured 13 others. The deadliest incident at the site occurred in 1938, when 60 people were killed and approximately 1,500 were injured. 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.
