Carabinieri seize devices after four youths caught making molotov cocktails in Pesaro
Search warrants and seizures have been carried out against four youths accused of manufacturing incendiary devices in Pesaro, the Pesaro Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed. The operation was executed by the Carabinieri Investigative Unit of the Pesaro and Urbino Provincial Command, with support from territorial commands across Emilia-Romagna.
How the investigation unfolded
The probe began after constant monitoring of territory and social media profiles linked to the group. According to investigators, the four youths — two of whom reside in the provinces of Rimini and Bologna — produced several molotov cocktails around February 2026. They tested their offensive potential in an abandoned industrial warehouse in Pesaro, causing multiple combustion and deflagration events.
No injuries were reported. The investigation remains open to determine whether the activity was merely a preparatory act to gain credibility within local student and "antagonist" collectives, or whether it formed part of a broader strategy linked to planned demonstrations.
What was seized
During the searches, Carabinieri seized tablets, computers and smartphones used by the suspects, all of which will undergo forensic analysis. Officers also recovered paper material containing references to manufacturing and using incendiary devices. No finished explosive devices were found during the seizures.
Legal framework for minors and explosives
Under the Italian Penal Code, molotov cocktails fall under the category of "explosive, asphyxiating, blinding, toxic or flammable materials" or "deadly devices." Article 435 provides for a prison sentence of one to five years for anyone who manufactures, acquires or holds such materials with the intent to endanger public safety.
For minors, the applicable regime depends on age and discernment. Those under 14 are not criminally liable, though a judge may order security measures such as placement in a community. Minors between 14 and 18 can be held criminally responsible only if they possessed the capacity to understand and intend their actions at the time of the offense, with sentences reduced accordingly. A law approved in July 2026 introduced a relative presumption of discernment for minors over 14, though this can be disproven during proceedings.
Broader pattern of youth involvement with weapons
The case fits a wider pattern observed in the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions throughout 2025–2026. Recent data shows the number of minors found carrying knives, knuckledusters, batons or similar instruments more than doubled between 2019 and 2024, with the upward trend continuing into the first half of 2025. In Macerata this month, two youths born in 2007 were reported for possession of toy pistols lacking the red safety cap, classified as "improper weapons" under Italian law.
What happens next
The seized devices will be analysed for digital evidence. Prosecutors in Pesaro are working to establish whether the group's actions amounted to a standalone attempt at self-promotion within radical circles or formed part of preparatory acts for public disorder. Further investigative steps are expected as authorities assess the full extent of the network and its potential targets.
