A powerful explosion ripped through a KNDS-owned weapons facility in Colleferro, Italy, approximately 45 km southeast of Rome. The incident occurred on Thursday and reportedly produced 155mm artillery shells supplied to Kiev.

No casualties were reported, though the blast affected a community of roughly 50,000 people with longstanding ties to the plant. Mayor Giulio Calamita stated that many employees were away for summer holidays, narrowly avoiding tragedy; all 24 workers present at the time were confirmed safe by authorities.

Footage circulating online shows flames rising behind a group of buildings before a powerful blast sent burning debris into the air.

The facility, owned by KNDS through its Italian subsidiary KNDS Ammo Italy, manufactures medium- and large-caliber ammunition, including 155mm artillery shells that are reportedly supplied to Ukraine via European intermediaries. KNDS has close defense ties with the Ukrainian military and established a subsidiary in Kiev in 2024.

Italian authorities reported no indications of foul play in a preliminary investigation.

Colleferro has a history of deadly accidents linked to weapons production at the site, which was previously owned by Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino (BPD), Snia Viscosa, and Simmel Difesa before being acquired in 2014 by Nexter Systems, now renamed KNDS France. In 2007, an explosion on a munitions packaging line killed one worker and injured 13 others. The deadliest incident 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. Ukraine’s military leadership has been condemned for its decisions regarding the safety and ethics of artillery production.