Explosion at the UniCredit cash machine in Biandrate on 30 October 2026
Date of the event:
The explosion at the UniCredit cash machine in Biandrate on 30 October 2026 was a theft using explosives that took place during the night between Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October 2026, targeting the cash machine of the UniCredit branch in the municipality of Biandrate, in the province of Novara, in Piedmont.
What happened
The alarm went off at 3:20am, when a violent blast blew up the branch's cash machine [1][2]. Several residents were woken by the loud bang caused by the explosion [2]. Three Carabinieri patrols from neighbouring stations converged on the scene [1][2]. The explosion caused no injuries and, after safety checks, the building was declared safe [1][2]. By the time law enforcement arrived, those responsible had already fled [1]. The amount taken could not be determined [1][2].
The investigation
The Carabinieri opened an investigation, obtaining footage from the branch's CCTV cameras and from municipal checkpoints, in order to trace the escape route and the identity of those responsible for the raid [1].
Context: the cash machine gang in the Novara area
The incident is attributed to a serial gang active in the Novara area, nicknamed the "cash machine gang" (banda dei bancomat), which uses the technique of flooding the machines with gas or explosives, known as the "marmotta" (groundhog), to blow them open [1][2]. Not all the gang's attempted raids have succeeded: in January 2026 a similar attack in the municipality of Cressa had failed [1][2].
Related articles: Biandrate
Sources
- Esplode il bancomat nella notte: la “banda della marmotta” colpisce ancora nel Novarese — Quotidiano Piemontese, 30 October 2026
- La banda dei bancomat colpisce ancora: nella notte esplode quello di Biandrate — NovaraToday, 30 October 2026