Italian investigative team receives death threat referencing Charlie Hebdo attack

Berlin, November 15, 2024—The editorial team of the investigative television program “Report” on Italian public broadcaster RAI3 received a death threat via social media on Tuesday, November 12, saying the team “deserved it, Charlie Hebdo editorial team style,” following their reporting on the Israel-Gaza war. 

The message referenced a 2015 terrorist attack targeting the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that killed 12 people, including eight journalists, and injured 11.

“The threat against the editorial team of the television program ‘Report’ and comparisons to the deadly Charlie Hebdo attack are alarming and must be taken seriously by Italian authorities,” said Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative. “Journalists should be able to report on sensitive issues without fear of violence or intimidation. Authorities must complete their investigation, bring the perpetrators to justice, and take all necessary measures to protect the ‘Report’ team.”

Sigfrido Ranucci, head of “Report,” told RAI News the threat was reported to police.

Ranucci has been under police protection since August 2021 due to an alleged assassination plot by an organized crime group.

In 2022, CPJ documented emailed death threats that referenced Charlie Hebdo sent to the staff of the Serbian newspaper Danas because of its editorial policy.

CPJ emailed questions to the Italian Ministry of Interior but did not receive a response.