Rome (Agencies): Israeli foreign intelligence agency Mossad has reportedly been implicated in an espionage scandal targeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other senior officials, according to a report by Yedioth Ahronoth.
The scandal involves deals with the Milan-based private investigation firm Equalize, which is composed of current and former senior members of the security services. The firm is accused of stealing personal information on politicians and public figures for extortion purposes.
At least four people have been arrested, and dozens more are under investigation. Cybersecurity experts and hackers may have breached the servers of Italy’s Interior Ministry. Italian media outlets have described the case as a “conspiracy of the highest level” involving members of the mafia, intelligence services, and foreign intelligence agencies, including Mossad.
Prime Minister Meloni condemned the plot as “unacceptable” and a “threat to democracy.” Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has called for an urgent parliamentary probe, expressing concerns that state secrets may have been compromised. He warned that the exposed personal information is just the tip of the iceberg.
The primary suspect in the investigation is a former senior member of the police who heads Equalize. He is accused of breaching the servers of government ministries and the police between 2019 and 2024 to gather secrets and sensitive information, which he sold or planned to sell to his clients.
According to a report by Corriere della Sera, investigators intercepted a visit to the investigation firm by two unidentified Israelis described as intelligence agents. They sought information regarding Iranian gas that may be of interest to Italy’s government gas company, ENI. The visit was coordinated by a senior member of the police who worked for Italian intelligence, Mossad’s counterpart.