Munitions factory blast near Rome puts industrial safety in focus

A powerful explosion tore through a munitions factory south of the Italian capital Rome on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera. The blast, reported by the Qatar-based network, has drawn attention to the safety record and oversight of Italy's defence-related manufacturing sector.

The full extent of casualties and damage was not immediately clear in the initial reports. The incident comes at a time when European defence production is under scrutiny, with governments across the bloc expanding military spending in response to the war in Ukraine.