A large explosion erupted at an ammunition factory in Colleferro, near Rome, on August 13, 2023. The facility, operated by KNDS Ammo Italy, a subsidiary of the French-German defense group KNDS, is known for producing artillery shells, including those supplied to Ukraine. The fire began in the area where gunpowder is processed and quickly spread to nearby vegetation, prompting the deployment of police, ten fire crews, and a helicopter to the scene.

Witnesses reported seeing a massive fireball followed by a towering column of smoke rising from the factory. One local resident described the explosion as so powerful that it shook her entire building, initially leading her to believe there had been an earthquake.

Colleferro's mayor, Giulio Calamita, confirmed that the explosion did not result in any injuries and primarily affected a production area and storage facilities within the factory. Initial reports indicated that 24 workers present at the time of the explosion were successfully evacuated. "If the explosion had occurred outside of the summer holiday period, when the factory is closed, it would have been a disaster," Calamita stated, adding that authorities were still extinguishing the last remnants of the fire.

The cause of the explosion remains undetermined, and both police and prosecutors are conducting investigations at the site. KNDS is also carrying out an internal inquiry into the incident. According to information on the company's website, KNDS Ammo Italy manufactures medium and large caliber ammunition for land and naval defense systems, as well as solid propellants for aerospace launch vehicles. The company is involved in framework agreements for 155 mm artillery shells with the European Defense Agency, signed in 2023, and local sources indicate that this facility produces 155 mm shells supplied to Ukraine through European partners.