Italy's Milan Prosecutor's Office has launched a formal arson investigation following a massive blaze at a Bartolini logistics depot in the city's Bovisa district. The case has been assigned to the anti-mafia prosecution unit (Dda) as a precautionary investigative measure.
The Incident
The fire originated from a single package aboard a Turin-bound truck at the facility. According to the prosecutor's office, the case file has been opened against unknown persons and is being coordinated by Milan's Chief Prosecutor Marcello Viola and Dda prosecutor Paolo Storari.
The decision to assign the case to the Dda rather than standard criminal channels is a precautionary legal strategy—used when the cause of a major fire remains unclear. This approach preserves investigative options while forensic work continues.
Investigation Status
Investigators are conducting forensic analysis on the burnt package and reviewing security footage from the depot. They will also examine shipping manifests to trace the package's origin and interview Bartolini employees who handled the parcel.
Bartolini is one of Italy's largest courier and freight companies, operating more than 200 branches across the country. The Bovisa logistics hub serves as a critical sorting and distribution node in Milan's northwestern industrial area.
What Happens Next
Italian law defines incendio doloso (arson) as the intentional ignition of a fire endangering people or property. Conviction can result in prison sentences ranging from 3 to 7 years, escalating to 5 to 10 years if the fire endangers public safety.
The prosecutor's office has not issued a timeline for the investigation, and no suspects have been identified. The focus remains on establishing the fire's cause and whether it was deliberate or accidental.
