In Italy, 20 journalists required all-day police protection last year.

Omissions

• The figure of ~20 refers to journalists living under permanent round-the-clock protection (scorta), not to all journalists who received police protection at some point; RSF reported in 2017 that 196 Italian journalists had received police protection 'this year', showing that the number depends heavily on the definition used.
• Only one independent secondary source (CPJ, October 2025) was located within the search budget; no primary official figure from the Italian Ministry of the Interior or a national statistics source was retrieved, although the Ministry of the Interior publishes biannual reports on acts of intimidation against journalists.
• The claim's context (explosive attacks in Italy and Greece) corresponds to the October 2025 car bombing targeting investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci in Italy, which is the event the protection figures were reported alongside.

Sources

• PrimaryCouncil of Europe — Italian biannual report on the safety of journalists"In October 2024, the Ministry of the Interior published its biannual report on acts of intimidation against journalists for 2024." (confirms the Italian Ministry of the Interior systematically reports on threats and protection measures for journalists)
• SecondaryCommittee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)"The group said that Italy has highest number of journalists threatened and under police protection in Europe. About 20 journalists live under ..." (report on the car bombing targeting investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci)
• SecondaryReporters Without Borders (RSF)"No fewer than 196 Italian journalists received police protection this year. This alarmingly high figure was revealed by the interior minister" (2017; broader definition — journalists who received protection during the year, not those permanently under round-the-clock guard)