Sicily by Car parent company faces wave of 'mafia' attacks in Palermo
Third attack in as many months for car rental firm
The car rental company Sicily by Car has experienced a wave of violent mafia attacks in recent weeks in Sicily, according to local news reports.
On Thursday night, a fire broke out at the headquarters of the Sicily by Car franchise in Palermo’s San Lorenzo neighbourhood, torching nine cars and two vans, according to Rai News.
The Sicilian company, which operates in Malta under a franchise agreement, has an office at Malta International Airport.
While the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, it follows an arson attack last month on the company’s depot in nearby Villagrazia di Carini, when dozens of vehicles were damaged and destroyed.
And in March, a group of hooded men wielding machine guns opened fire on a Sicily by Car depot, damaging several vehicles.
The incidents are believed to be part of a wider campaign of intimidation and violence targeting businesses from large players like the auto-dealer – reported to operate a fleet of around 14,000 vehicles – to smaller operators, including restaurants, barbers and real estate agents.
The owner and founder of the company Tommaso Dragotto told local media in March he was “surprised and shocked” by the gun attack, but that he “feared nothing”, according to La Sicilia.
Dragotto told Italian media that he had not received any threats in the lead-up to the attacks, which investigators believe could signal a mafia desire to reassert its influence in southern Italy, driven by younger members of the Cosa Nostra.
Palermo mayor Roberto Lagalla called last month’s arson attack on Sicily by Car “deeply concerning and cannot be underestimated, especially in light of the previous episodes of intimidation that have affected the company in recent months”.
“Palermo and its surrounding area cannot accept any form of violence or criminal pressure against those who do business, create jobs, and invest in the economic development of our community.”
Sicily by Car is represented in Malta through a franchise agreement with notorious entrepreneur Christian Borg, who has faced a raft of charges including money laundering, fraud and assault.
Borg’s company, Princess Holdings Ltd, has run the local franchise for the popular Sicily auto-rental service since 2020.
Following news of Borg’s reported involvement in an alleged kidnapping two years later, Sicily by Car distanced itself from him in a statement, while continuing to continue its business involvement with the car dealer.
In October last year, Malta International Airport had renewed its business agreement with Sicily by Car, allowing the franchise to continue offering its services at the airport.
The decision came less than two years after its offices at MIA were raided as part of a fraud investigation.
The Malta franchisee also has deals with various major state agencies, including Transport Malta and LESA.